Would You Change?
“There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.” Even Though this quote was said by Ernest Hemingway, many years ago it perfectly fits the topic of William Golding's "Lord Of The Flies". In this interesting novel we meet a group of schoolboys that get stranded on a deserted island after their plane crashes. As the novel progresses one boy named Ralph becomes more and more responsible and mature as he starts to understand the ways of life. At the beginning of the novel, Ralph is a self-centered leader, but as the novel progresses he matures to become a more responsible and group-centered leader. The author wants Ralph to represent order and civilization.
When …show more content…
In an attempt to make conversation, Piggy tells Ralph about his name: " 'I don’t care what they call me,' he said confidentially, 'so long as they don’t call me what they used to call me at school.' Ralph was faintly interested. 'What was that?' The fat boy glanced over his shoulder, then leaned toward Ralph. He whispered. 'They used to call me Piggy.' Ralph shrieked with laughter. He jumped up. 'Piggy! Piggy!' 'Ralph—please!' Piggy clasped his hands in apprehension. 'I said I didn’t want—' 'Piggy! Piggy!' " (12) The author's word choice draws the reader's attention to the idea that Ralph is very self-centered as a person and as a leader. It is introducing us to Ralph's personality and how he is very selfish and clearly does not care about other people's feelings. Piggy tells him that he doesn't like a name that they used to call him in school and hints that he got bullied yet Ralph still makes fun of him. At this point in the story he only thinks about himself. Another example of how Ralph is a very self centered leader is towards the beginning of the novel is this quote. The boys have elected Ralph as chief and …show more content…
When Ralph becomes chief he has a great idea to set up a fire. That fire is to signal people that they are there and want rescue. He also assigns people to different groups and functions: “There’s another thing. We can help them to find us. If a ship comes near the island they may not notice us. So we must make smoke on top of the mountain. We must make a fire.” (51). With this the author wants his/her reader to understand that Ralph shows leadership by wanting to build a fire. He makes the decision on the crucial moment and it is the best and most civilized thing to do in the moment. It also shows leadership because here Ralph is thinking about the whole group of kids and not only himself. He could just sit down and boss people around but he decides to try to signal people so the whole group can be rescued. Another example of how Ralph grew to become a more responsible and group-centered leader is in this passage.It's the end of the novel and many of the boys have died, including Piggy. Jack and his clique have gone completely savage and are plotting Ralph's murder. Ralph is on the run until they run across a naval officer that is offering rescue. "Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart, and the fall through the air of a true, wise friend called Piggy"(248). Ralph realizes he is safe and instantly regrets what happened in the island, they went from civilized
“There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.” Even Though this quote was said by Ernest Hemingway, many years ago it perfectly fits the topic of William Golding's "Lord Of The Flies". In this interesting novel we meet a group of schoolboys that get stranded on a deserted island after their plane crashes. As the novel progresses one boy named Ralph becomes more and more responsible and mature as he starts to understand the ways of life. At the beginning of the novel, Ralph is a self-centered leader, but as the novel progresses he matures to become a more responsible and group-centered leader. The author wants Ralph to represent order and civilization.
When …show more content…
In an attempt to make conversation, Piggy tells Ralph about his name: " 'I don’t care what they call me,' he said confidentially, 'so long as they don’t call me what they used to call me at school.' Ralph was faintly interested. 'What was that?' The fat boy glanced over his shoulder, then leaned toward Ralph. He whispered. 'They used to call me Piggy.' Ralph shrieked with laughter. He jumped up. 'Piggy! Piggy!' 'Ralph—please!' Piggy clasped his hands in apprehension. 'I said I didn’t want—' 'Piggy! Piggy!' " (12) The author's word choice draws the reader's attention to the idea that Ralph is very self-centered as a person and as a leader. It is introducing us to Ralph's personality and how he is very selfish and clearly does not care about other people's feelings. Piggy tells him that he doesn't like a name that they used to call him in school and hints that he got bullied yet Ralph still makes fun of him. At this point in the story he only thinks about himself. Another example of how Ralph is a very self centered leader is towards the beginning of the novel is this quote. The boys have elected Ralph as chief and …show more content…
When Ralph becomes chief he has a great idea to set up a fire. That fire is to signal people that they are there and want rescue. He also assigns people to different groups and functions: “There’s another thing. We can help them to find us. If a ship comes near the island they may not notice us. So we must make smoke on top of the mountain. We must make a fire.” (51). With this the author wants his/her reader to understand that Ralph shows leadership by wanting to build a fire. He makes the decision on the crucial moment and it is the best and most civilized thing to do in the moment. It also shows leadership because here Ralph is thinking about the whole group of kids and not only himself. He could just sit down and boss people around but he decides to try to signal people so the whole group can be rescued. Another example of how Ralph grew to become a more responsible and group-centered leader is in this passage.It's the end of the novel and many of the boys have died, including Piggy. Jack and his clique have gone completely savage and are plotting Ralph's murder. Ralph is on the run until they run across a naval officer that is offering rescue. "Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart, and the fall through the air of a true, wise friend called Piggy"(248). Ralph realizes he is safe and instantly regrets what happened in the island, they went from civilized