Archetypes In Lord Of The Flies Essay

In Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, archetypes are used to represent universal patterns of human nature, essential in every society. The protagonist, Ralph, is described as athletic, handsome, orderly, and ultimately represents a civilized young man. He tries to recreate a civilization by becoming dictator and establishing rules. However, with only reference to a war-like environment outside the island, evil results and consumes the boys, destroying all order. The author used these characters and environment to show no matter the place, society will function the same because of these recurring types of characters. He used Ralph to represent the natural, overpowering force of evil within us all, which led to the idea that evil will result when savagery overcomes the need for civilization. …show more content…
In the beginning, Ralph repeatedly stresses the importance of keeping the signal fire going, as it is their only chance of being rescued. They begin to make shelters and establish rules. One of the main rules created was whoever has the conch has the right to speak. To enhance the role he plays in society, Jack possesses a natural leadership and is very realistic. For example, he was the only character to classify Simon's death as murder and reflect on his involvement in it. Ralph’s leadership proves effective for a while, until most of the boys begin to give in to savagery, which Jack and Roger represent. Ralph was unsure why this happened, showing that he is still remaining civilized. However, as time passes on and Jack’s manipulation becomes apparent, Ralph begins to realize that there is evil within all of