How Does Golding Use Power In Lord Of The Flies

In the novel, Lord of the Flies by author William Golding, a group of young boys crash from a plane onto an uninhabited island and begin to see new, more savage forms of themselves. After they crash, the boys decide to elect a leader for themselves. The majority vote for one of the older boys, Ralph. In the beginning, they all live in peace and follow the rules they have set for themselves. As the story progresses, some of the boys begin to lose their civic attitude. Eventually, one of the older boys, Jack, who himself has become savage, revolts against Ralph and forms a new group that focuses on hunting. Jack elects himself as the leader, using Piggy’s glasses, which he stole, to make the fire. In Lord of the Flies, Golding uses Piggy’s glasses

In the story, Jack has created his own society that focuses on hunting. One night, he and some of his followers sneak out to steal Piggy’s glasses. They fight Ralph and Piggy but come out victorious. Jack is now seen as “a chief now in truth; and he made stabbing motions with his spear. From his left hand dangled Piggy's broken glasses” (168). The glasses had become the most powerful thing on the island as they became the only source for signaling ships, cooking food, and keeping warm. Jack, who had gained full control of the glasses, used them to assert his dominance over the other boys on the island. He had no intention of using the glasses to retreat the island, but rather to cook food and power for himself. When Ralph, Piggy, Sam, and Eric are discussing over the incident, they complain about why Jack and his band of savages stole the glasses and technically the fire too. Ralph says: ‘“Now Piggy can’t see, and they came, stealing...we’d have given them fire for themselves only they stole it’” (170). Jack took the glasses even though he could have shared it with Piggy and Ralph, but Jack knew that if he had the glasses, he would be the most powerful person on the island, so he took the glasses for himself while not caring about the needs of others. These glasses are the only way Piggy can see, and the only way the boys can leave the island, but Jack’s need for power and control overcomes his sympathy for