What Is The Nature Of Evil In Lord Of The Flies

In William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, a group of British schoolboys stranded on a desolate island do their best to survive without the presence of adult supervision. At first, they elect Ralph, a fair, rational boy, as their chief. Though he attempts to instill a semblance of civilization and order with the huts, conch shell, and fire, the boys soon find themselves drawn to wild, savage Jack. Hunting and dancing with Jack proves to be more fun to the boys than building shelters and minding a fire all day. The relish in the opportunity to release their wild natures with Jack. Soon Ralph, and his second-in-command Piggy, find themselves few supporters and ostracized from Jack’s rival tribe of savages. However, when Jack ‘hosts’ a pig roast, …show more content…
He presents himself thus, “Before the party had started a great log had been dragged into the center of the lawn and Jack, painted and garlanded, sat there like an idol. There were piles of meat on green leaves near him, and coconut shells full of drink” (Golding 148). He is in the center of the group, and his paint and garlands set him apart as important, savage, and the clear center of attention. He sits like an idol because he wants to present himself as a god-like, infallible leader, who can bring pleasure but also punishment. He has surrounded himself with the food in a clear message as to who exactly is the source of the boys enjoyment and food. The boys are united in their allegiance to him; they ate his food, now they must be in his tribe and serve him. Once they have received ‘communion’ from Jack, they are bound to him. In this way, he was able to form a tribe dedicated to him in a way Ralph never could. Ralph may have held assemblies, but these assemblies held no real power. Jack’s communal feast proves to be a much more binding assembly than any of …show more content…
Jack proves himself as a provider, offering the boys irresistible food and fun, and the image he crafts of himself as a painted idol is a not so subtle reminder of who the boys owe for this feast. Ralph and Piggy, on the other hand, only lower themselves in the eyes of the boys at this feast. Their civilized rules and fire could not hold up to the draw of savagery, and they only debased themselves further by accepting Jack’s, meat, almost acknowledging that good food is preferable to a conch shell and huts. Ultimately, Jack satisfies primal urges in the boys, which proves to be much stronger than the urge for reason, rationality, and