Lord of the Flies by William Golding, is a novel about power struggle in a war based world. During World War II, a group of British schoolboys are stranded on a deserted island after their plane crashes. The island has only young boys, none above the age of twelve. Ralph, one of the older boys on the island, takes charge beating out another boy, Jack for the position of chief. As times goes on, Jack extracts Ralph’s power. Through this struggle, Ralph learns to become a leader rather than an inexperienced adolescent. Ralph gains responsibility and awareness as a result of losing power on the island.
Ralph has authority on the island from the start, but he is blinded from top priorities. When Ralph learns there are no adults on the island, …show more content…
When all the boys kill Simon, the symbol of pure good and innocence, Ralph has the responsibility to hold himself accountable for the consequences actions can cause. Ralph is the only boy who can admit “‘That was murder.’”(139). He is the only one who takes responsibility for the bad things he has done, and realizes how serious this situation is. While isolated from these boys, Ralph becomes more of a leader by owning his mistakes. Even though Ralph has matured, that does not mean he gains any power back: “Ralph could no longer make himself heard” as the island has become a mess of chaos under Jack’s rule (162). Ralph has no authority over these boys until they are rescued. A naval officer arrives on their island to rescue them. He looks at these boys who need, “a bath, a haircut, a nose-wipe and a good deal of ointment,” and just sees children(181). He asks who’s in charge, this officer expects an adult to be on the island he cannot see, instead: “‘I am,’ said Ralph loudly”(182). Ralph proves to himself, the officer and the boys on island that he is in charge and became the person most fit for being a leader. He has learned to take responsibility for others as well as
Ralph has authority on the island from the start, but he is blinded from top priorities. When Ralph learns there are no adults on the island, …show more content…
When all the boys kill Simon, the symbol of pure good and innocence, Ralph has the responsibility to hold himself accountable for the consequences actions can cause. Ralph is the only boy who can admit “‘That was murder.’”(139). He is the only one who takes responsibility for the bad things he has done, and realizes how serious this situation is. While isolated from these boys, Ralph becomes more of a leader by owning his mistakes. Even though Ralph has matured, that does not mean he gains any power back: “Ralph could no longer make himself heard” as the island has become a mess of chaos under Jack’s rule (162). Ralph has no authority over these boys until they are rescued. A naval officer arrives on their island to rescue them. He looks at these boys who need, “a bath, a haircut, a nose-wipe and a good deal of ointment,” and just sees children(181). He asks who’s in charge, this officer expects an adult to be on the island he cannot see, instead: “‘I am,’ said Ralph loudly”(182). Ralph proves to himself, the officer and the boys on island that he is in charge and became the person most fit for being a leader. He has learned to take responsibility for others as well as