What Caused the Chaos on the Island
An Analysis of “Lord of the Flies”
Lord of the Flies by Sir William Golding, is a novel that follows a group of boys who have been shipwrecked on a tropical island. The boys task themselves with developing a functioning society on the island, with being rescued as the ultimate goal. They decide they need a chief to govern them on the island, and Ralph is chosen to take the role. Jack, however, also wants to be chief and is willing to do anything to get his way. Eventually, the island descends into chaos as boys are killed, the forest is burned down, and rescue is a fleeting afterthought compared to hunting. Many of the events that occur can be blamed on Ralph and Jack’s feud for control of the boys and …show more content…
Early on in the novel, when Ralph has control of the group, the theme of the quest for power becomes apparent. Both Ralph and Jack begin to fight over what to do and who’s right. When the first two rickety shelters have been put up and Jack is hunting a pig, Ralph comes over to confront Jack to get him to work on the shelters. Jack says he is trying to get meat, and Ralph replies, ““But you haven’t yet.” His invitation might have passed as casual, were it not for the undertone”(51). In order to control the hunters and get the group to do what he wants to do, Ralph attempts to undermine Jack’s authority by calling him out. Later on when Jack and the hunters allow the fire to go out, Ralph once again attempts to call out and undermine Jack by yelling, “I was chief, and you were going to do what I said. You talk. But you can’t even build huts - then you go off hunting and let out the fire” (71). Ralph isn’t the only one who attempts to take control. Piggy …show more content…
It is Jack’s actions, however, that end up causing chaos. In order to cement himself as the dictator of the boys, Jack ends up causing terrible events on the island. He is even willing to kill others who get in his way. When Jack realizes that he needs a fire to cook his meat, Jack’s tribe decides to steal Ralph’s tribe’s fire. Maurice asks Jack what happens if they run into any of Ralph’s tribe members, and Jack responds, “if he comes we’ll do our dance again” (161). This is significant because it was their dance that was responsible for the death of Simon. Now Jack is willing to do the same murderous dance to another boy on purpose, just so he can get fire, and maintain his power on the island. Later, when Jack has stolen Piggy’s glasses for the fire, Ralph and Piggy decide to go confront Jack. Piggy gets up and yells, “Which is better - to be a pack of painted Indians like you are, or to be sensible like Ralph is?... Which is better, law and rescue or hunting and breaking things up?” (180). Jack, worried about Piggy and Ralph influencing his tribe, allows Roger to drop a boulder on Piggy. Instead of feeling remorse for Piggy’s murder, Jack screams at Ralph, “See? See? That’s what you’ll get! I meant that!... I’m chief!” (181). Jack is perfectly fine with Piggy death, because it allows him to keep control over the boys Jack uses Piggy as an example of what will happen
An Analysis of “Lord of the Flies”
Lord of the Flies by Sir William Golding, is a novel that follows a group of boys who have been shipwrecked on a tropical island. The boys task themselves with developing a functioning society on the island, with being rescued as the ultimate goal. They decide they need a chief to govern them on the island, and Ralph is chosen to take the role. Jack, however, also wants to be chief and is willing to do anything to get his way. Eventually, the island descends into chaos as boys are killed, the forest is burned down, and rescue is a fleeting afterthought compared to hunting. Many of the events that occur can be blamed on Ralph and Jack’s feud for control of the boys and …show more content…
Early on in the novel, when Ralph has control of the group, the theme of the quest for power becomes apparent. Both Ralph and Jack begin to fight over what to do and who’s right. When the first two rickety shelters have been put up and Jack is hunting a pig, Ralph comes over to confront Jack to get him to work on the shelters. Jack says he is trying to get meat, and Ralph replies, ““But you haven’t yet.” His invitation might have passed as casual, were it not for the undertone”(51). In order to control the hunters and get the group to do what he wants to do, Ralph attempts to undermine Jack’s authority by calling him out. Later on when Jack and the hunters allow the fire to go out, Ralph once again attempts to call out and undermine Jack by yelling, “I was chief, and you were going to do what I said. You talk. But you can’t even build huts - then you go off hunting and let out the fire” (71). Ralph isn’t the only one who attempts to take control. Piggy …show more content…
It is Jack’s actions, however, that end up causing chaos. In order to cement himself as the dictator of the boys, Jack ends up causing terrible events on the island. He is even willing to kill others who get in his way. When Jack realizes that he needs a fire to cook his meat, Jack’s tribe decides to steal Ralph’s tribe’s fire. Maurice asks Jack what happens if they run into any of Ralph’s tribe members, and Jack responds, “if he comes we’ll do our dance again” (161). This is significant because it was their dance that was responsible for the death of Simon. Now Jack is willing to do the same murderous dance to another boy on purpose, just so he can get fire, and maintain his power on the island. Later, when Jack has stolen Piggy’s glasses for the fire, Ralph and Piggy decide to go confront Jack. Piggy gets up and yells, “Which is better - to be a pack of painted Indians like you are, or to be sensible like Ralph is?... Which is better, law and rescue or hunting and breaking things up?” (180). Jack, worried about Piggy and Ralph influencing his tribe, allows Roger to drop a boulder on Piggy. Instead of feeling remorse for Piggy’s murder, Jack screams at Ralph, “See? See? That’s what you’ll get! I meant that!... I’m chief!” (181). Jack is perfectly fine with Piggy death, because it allows him to keep control over the boys Jack uses Piggy as an example of what will happen