Jack Merridew Character Analysis

Love and Anger: Two Sides of a Coin Would you kill someone you love? Would you kill someone you look up to? Jack Merridew’s character undoubtedly changes throughout the book “Lord of the Flies” written by William Goulding. Jack Merridew’s mercy fades away by the end of the book, from love to anger, and his character impacts the book greatly. At the beginning of the book, Jack is semi merciful and loving. Jack and the choir have a democratic system where they can talk and make decisions. Jack wants to be with his friends from school, and do things with them. He decides what they do by saying, “ Jack's in charge of the choir. They can be--what do you want them to be?" “Hunters." (pg. 23) Jack is lenient to the choir in the beginning and calls …show more content…
Jack starts to notice the choir doing the opposite of enough. Jack tells the choir what to do many times in the middle of the book. He bosses them around because they are being lazy and disobeying him as the leader. "We'll hunt. I'm going to be chief.” (pg. 128) At this point he wants to be free and hunt with the boys. Jack also is having trouble with Ralph and his relationship with him. The book progresses, and Jack gets jealous of Ralph’s power and starts to turn on him. Jack says, “I’m not going to play any longer. Not with you.” (pg. 127) Jack leaves the tribe because he is hungry for power. Jack has now betrayed his leader and his friend. His character is transitioning into savagery. Jack continues to continue his savage behavior later in the …show more content…
He is completely insane. Jack realizes the choir can work for him; the choir can make his life easier, and he needs to control them. Jack shows he can control the choir when he makes them tie up SamnEric and torture them. He also makes them look for Ralph in hope of killing him. Now Jack has allies against his enemies. He has turned completely savage to his friends. He has betrayed them and has turned evil. Consequently, Jack now believes Ralph is the cause of pain and hardship and believes he should be killed for it. Jack now knows the real enemy isn’t the beast, it’s Ralph. He tries to betray his friend and former leader. He wants to end his happiness even though it has been his life. “The rock struck Piggy a glancing blow from chin to knee; the conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist.”(pg. 181) This is a very heartbreaking moment for the tribe and especially for Ralph. Not only did Piggy die, but the conch broke symbolizing a new civilization. Jack says, “I’m chief!” (pg. 181) and runs after Ralph with punches and brings him to the ground. A huge fight occurs that causes many injuries. At this point, Jack is completely savage and is against life. His tribe is a dictatorship and now he has no love for anyone but himself. Jack is completely savage and has lost his hope and