Like Jack, Ralph is charismatic and inclined to leadership. However, there are some aspects in Ralph that make him stand out as the member who represents order and civilization. He starts as a naive child, proud of his good looks and nice ways, immediately making him chief. Ralph blowing the conch for the first time signifies the true, pure, selfless power vested in him. He believes that “if [someone is] a chief, [they have] to think, [have] to be wise, [and have] to grab at a decision” (78) without hesitation, while making wise choices for the rest of the boys as well. His priorities are making sure that the group is taken care of, the litteluns are safe, the fire is lit, and shelters are in the process of being built. Throughout the novel,
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Ralph strived to stop that from happening, but at times, he was pulled into “the brilliant world of hunting, tactics, fierce exhilaration, skill” (71) and sheer power. At times the beast in Ralph comes out as well. The first scenario is the very first time Ralph is introduced. One of the first things he does is take off his clothes, a sign of savagery on its own. When he first feels the island, “he [becomes] conscious of the weight of clothes, [kicks] his shoes off fiercely and [rips] off each stocking with its elastic garter in a single movement” (10), and continues to shed the rest of his clothes in a ferocious manner. The first time Ralph hunts, he starts to behave sinisterly. He wounds a pig, and talks excitedly. He even goes to the extent to believe that maybe "hunting was good after all" (113). Another instance where Ralph lets his inner beast slip is when he says that he would “like to put on war-paint and be a savage” (142), slowly emerging his cravings to join the rest of the boys instead of standing against them. Furthermore, when the dance that Jack leads begins to heat up, Ralph finds himself "eager to take a place in this demented but partly secure society" (152), which then leads to the brutal murder of
Ralph strived to stop that from happening, but at times, he was pulled into “the brilliant world of hunting, tactics, fierce exhilaration, skill” (71) and sheer power. At times the beast in Ralph comes out as well. The first scenario is the very first time Ralph is introduced. One of the first things he does is take off his clothes, a sign of savagery on its own. When he first feels the island, “he [becomes] conscious of the weight of clothes, [kicks] his shoes off fiercely and [rips] off each stocking with its elastic garter in a single movement” (10), and continues to shed the rest of his clothes in a ferocious manner. The first time Ralph hunts, he starts to behave sinisterly. He wounds a pig, and talks excitedly. He even goes to the extent to believe that maybe "hunting was good after all" (113). Another instance where Ralph lets his inner beast slip is when he says that he would “like to put on war-paint and be a savage” (142), slowly emerging his cravings to join the rest of the boys instead of standing against them. Furthermore, when the dance that Jack leads begins to heat up, Ralph finds himself "eager to take a place in this demented but partly secure society" (152), which then leads to the brutal murder of