Kathy Vong
Mr. Barry
English 11, Sec: 5
13 March 2015
Man, Savage at Heart
Toba Beta, an Indonesian author, once wrote, “Laws are made not to be broken. They are made to curb our savagery” (My Ancestor Was an Ancient Astronaut Quotes). Beta's idea is evident in both of William Golding's novels Lord of the Flies and Pincher Martin especially when Golding tests his protagonists by placing them in dire situations that not only endanger their lives but, also reveal their true nature, a savage. Ralph, Piggy, Jack, and Simon of Lord of the Flies and Christopher Martin of Pincher Martin come from affluent backgrounds in which they are both accustomed to education and the importance of one’s decorum. Being catapulted into isolation that calls
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Jack is always butting heads with Ralph for authority, even if he has no intention of leading the group of boys. Most of the brouhahas between Jack and Ralph are essentially over the title of chief. While Ralph argues for the title in order to set an example for the other boys, Jack only wants it because of the power it embodies. When Ralph chooses to disregard Jack's title, Jack ruthlessly expresses his displeasure: “‘I’m chief!’ Viciously, with full intention, he hurled his spear at Ralph. The point tore the skin and flesh over Ralph’s ribs, then sheared off and fell in the water” (Lord of the Flies 163). Jack is someone who is innately merciless in the beginning of the novel, but in spite of this, his savagery has never reached the point where he would purposely use his hunting skills to attack a fellow islander. When he “viciously” hits Ralph, that officially marks the moment he exposes his savagery. Golding shows that man is primitive and will always resort back to his true, bloodthirsty