Of the many ideas and meanings hidden in William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, Ralph’s leadership is one of the more prominent. All through the novel, Ralph makes decisions for the boys that advance the plot in both positive and negative ways. He rationally makes these decisions with the best of intentions and reasoning in an attempt to do what is best for the boys. However, despite having the right values about leading, Ralph can’t get the boys to follow such values. Although he might have the right ideas and solutions to be a good leader, Ralph can’t do the one thing that every leader must do: lead.
Throughout the novel, Ralph lacks the authority to control the boys. Ralph is often found struggling to maintain control over the boys as they do what they want with no regard to his demands. When Ralph is building the huts for shelter, he commands everybody to help build and not do anything else until the shelters are complete. However, after just a couple huts are complete, the boys are found “bathing, or eating, or playing” by the beach …show more content…
As seen at many parts in the novel, Ralph allows conflicts to persist instead of intervening to resolve them. One event that shows Ralph’s inability to resolve conflict is when he allows Jack to attack PIggy and break his glasses. Ralph takes no action towards defending Piggy from Jack. However, Ralph does feel “angry with himself for giving way” afterwards, which shows that he recognises his flaws as a leader, which possibly helps him become a better leader. Another example of Ralph not dealing with conflict is his rivalry with Jack. Throughout the novel Ralph and Jack constantly butt heads based on their views, but instead of resolving their conflict Ralph only insults Jack and treats him as if he’s lesser. By not being protecting and being loyal to all of the boys, Ralph allows conflicts to grow until the point when nobody will allow him to lead
Throughout the novel, Ralph lacks the authority to control the boys. Ralph is often found struggling to maintain control over the boys as they do what they want with no regard to his demands. When Ralph is building the huts for shelter, he commands everybody to help build and not do anything else until the shelters are complete. However, after just a couple huts are complete, the boys are found “bathing, or eating, or playing” by the beach …show more content…
As seen at many parts in the novel, Ralph allows conflicts to persist instead of intervening to resolve them. One event that shows Ralph’s inability to resolve conflict is when he allows Jack to attack PIggy and break his glasses. Ralph takes no action towards defending Piggy from Jack. However, Ralph does feel “angry with himself for giving way” afterwards, which shows that he recognises his flaws as a leader, which possibly helps him become a better leader. Another example of Ralph not dealing with conflict is his rivalry with Jack. Throughout the novel Ralph and Jack constantly butt heads based on their views, but instead of resolving their conflict Ralph only insults Jack and treats him as if he’s lesser. By not being protecting and being loyal to all of the boys, Ralph allows conflicts to grow until the point when nobody will allow him to lead