How Does Golding Present The Hunger In Lord Of The Flies

In William Golding's novel "Lord of the Flies," the isolation and lack of civilization on the island have a profound impact on the character of Jack as it incites a hunger within him and lures him into a never-ending spiral of savagery. When he first arrives on the island, he is initially excited by the prospect of adventure and exploration, and most importantly, power. This immediate hunger is displayed in the narration, “’I ought to be chief,’ said Jack with simple arrogance, ‘because I'm chapter chorister and head boy. I can sing C sharp.’” (Golding 15.) Jack seems to almost automatically presume that he is most suitable to lead as he holds what have now, unknowingly to him, become meaningless qualifications. The assumption that having the

What may have been viewed as a hunger quickly develops into a psychological need for Jack as he always feels he is superior over the rest, regardless of his insignificance. Jack is forced to recognize the rivalry between him and Ralph, his opposing force, and the protagonist of the story, but he cannot bear such a task. This sends Jack into a spiral of violence and savagery which is only drawn out deeper by the competition among all the boys. He starts to rely on tactics of fear and intimidation to gain control over the other boys, as evidenced by his use of violence and threats to maintain his authority. As time passes, this violence grows to an all-consuming state as shown in the depiction, "He tried to convey the compulsion to track down and kill that was swallowing him up" (Golding 42). This description shows how Jack's growing desire for control and power over everything around him is becoming increasingly pronounced, as he becomes consumed by his violent impulses. The personification of the kill “swallowing him up” perfectly coveys Jack’s emotions and mindset as a result of his