Bullying In Lord Of The Flies

William Golding’s post World War II novel, Lord of the Flies, illustrates the significance of bullying and friendships in the story. British school boys were sent off away from WWII to be safe, but parents and relatives were left behind. The school boys got in a plane crash and ended up on a deserted island with no adults. The boys assembled leaders, friends, and enemies while on the island. Ralph, a natural born leader, was chosen to be a chief and resulted as a good friend for most at the time. He also makes a very good friend named Piggy that stays along his side throughout the story. Jack, a destructive main character, is not chosen to be a leader but really wants to be one because he is used to being in charge as he is the leader of his

Most of his bullying towards him was because of his weight. He is a little overweight and Jack constantly makes Piggy feel bad about it. Nearing the beginning of the story, the boys all meet and Jack starts to be dominant. Jack says, “Shut up fatty… We don’t want you” (31). Jack bullies Piggy in the very beginning of the story in one of the first times the boys meet. Jack did this not only to hurt his feelings but also to get attention. Piggy does get hurt by Jack's words but Ralph is there to help him. Jack constantly points out everything Piggy does to embarrass him in front of all the boys. Piggy isn’t the bravest character in the story but he does a lot to help out. But Jack picks on him for everything he does slightly wrong. Jack says, “You’re always scared. Yah-Fatty!” (62). Jack bullies Piggy for being scared of something when more people are too. Jack also forgets all the things PIggy helps with and contributes too in the story. His glasses are also super significant as if he never had them, the boys would have no fire. Jack constantly picks on Piggy for the only reason that he is a little overweight and is a friend of Ralph. Jack is angry over the fact he was not chosen to be the leader of the group in the beginning of the story. Therefore, Jack decided to be cruel to the leaders Ralph and Piggy. Later on in the story, Jack continues to be mean and bully Piggy for no reason. Jack says,

Ralph is a great character and is described as the Protagonist. Throughout the story, Jack singles out and bullies Ralph. In the story, the boys were going hunting and doing tasks to make themselves survive. Jack singles out Ralph for his poor leadership and work. Jack says, “He’s not a hunter. He’d never have gotten us meat. He isn’t perfect and we don’t know anything about him. He just gives us orders and expects us to obey for nothing” (182). Jack dislikes the way Ralph is leading the boys even though they end up succeeding in survival. Jack’s bullying is nothing but jealousy as he isn’t the leader of the group. When going out to hunt, Ralph wants to go and Jack makes him stay because of his lack of experience of hunting. Jack says, "You're no good for a job like this” (31). Since Jack is not the leader, he proceeds to exclude and bully Ralph because he is the leader. When Ralph tells the hunters that they could not face up against the beast Jack expresses himself by bullying him and leaving the tribe. Jack says, “See? See? That’s what you’ll get! I meant that! There isn’t a tribe for you anymore! The conch is gone” (260-261). Jack attacks Ralph for his doubtful comment that he could not go against the beast safely. Jack proceeds to turn against Ralph that instant, leaving the tribe and making a new one with his choir. Jack bullies Ralph a lot in the story making Jack the antagonist in the story.