How Does Ralph Change In Lord Of The Flies

The Lord of the Flies, written by William Golding, is a book where a group of boys end up stranded on a deserted island; leaving them to form their own society. Ralph goes through a significant transformation of his character throughout the story. He is portrayed as a mature leader, confident, and charismatic. However, Ralph’s experiences cause his character to become more complex. There were many challenges that Ralph faced in the novel. Ralph has always had a sense of self control. He begins to show savagery in chapter 8, when the bigguns join Jack’s new tribe. However, he shows savagery much more after the murder of Simon. The text says,”...leapt onto the beast, screamed, struck, bit,tore. There were no words, and no movements but the tearing of teeth and claws.”. He was involved in the murder, showing that he also was tearing and biting. Another example where Ralph shows his savagery is the murder of Piggy. On page 141 it states, “Piggy fell forty feet and landed on his back across the

The killings of Simon and Piggy can lead to mental issues, such as PTSD. A study by Matteo Fabris and Claudio Longobord states, “Homicide offenders have a higher frequency of PTSD than violent offenders who have not committed murder.”. Ralph, who was involved in both murders, would be greatly affected mentally and possibly develop PTSD. Another feeling Ralph felt was grief. On page 158 it says, “Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart, and the fall through the air of a true, wise friend called Piggy.” Ralph might've been sobbing like a kid, but he no longer was one. The reason for this is not innocence loss, but for now being aware of the evil in people’s hearts. He is grieving the death of his friend. The island has left him with mental