Integrity In Lord Of The Flies By William Goulding

When faced with adversity, those who preserve their integrity while adapting to their environment emerge the most successful. To preserve one’s integrity is to be honest and have strong moral principles. In the book The Lord of the Flies, William Goulding suggests that adversity will reveal inherent morals, and the willingness to remain a man of integrity. Goulding reveals how abandoning one’s integrity leads to the deterioration of one’s mental health, but also how an abundance of integrity can lead to disastrous consequences. Goulding illustrates how Piggy’s refusal to adapt leading to his eventual death, Jack’s liberation from his morals leading to near insanity and Ralph’s ability to remain in the middle of the spectrum was all due to their

Jack’s abandon of integrity becomes evident early in the book. During meetings, he talks of how rules are necessary on the island, how “the English are the best at everything.” However, when the rules do not benefit Jack, he gets angry and claims things such as “Bollocks to the rules! We’re strong- we hunt!” This shows how quick Jack is to forget rule and order when the situation is not in Jack’s best interest. Following rule and order signifies honesty and strong moral principle. Forcing rules upon others in order to gain power demonstrates hypocrisy and poor moral principles. In Jack’s mind, the rules apply to everybody but himself. Jack usually interrupts Piggy, even when Piggy has the conch. This is a small, yet significant action executed by Jack. It illustrates how his views differ on those around him. Jack considers some boys less significant than others, like a hierarchy. From the beginning, Jack believes that he should be the chief of the boys as a king would be to his people. Jack and

Upon meeting Jack and the choir, he makes it obvious that he is in charge. However, he gives everyone tasks so nobody feels unimportant. He assures Jack that “the choir belongs to [Jack], of course.” In exerting power in a non-selfish fashion, he preserves his integrity while adapting to his environment. He knows that he has appropriate ideals, but he can tell that Jack desires power. This could be dangerous for Ralph, so he gives Jack power in letting him direct the choir. Ralph’s actions here are a good illustration that he knows what he desires, and how to be smart about it. Historically, when an authorial figure exerts excessive power on his people, this authorial figure is overthrown. A good example of this is King Louis XVI. Raising taxes and starving his people caused him to be despised and executed. Ralph knows that he must not force rules upon the boys, but he must make his intentions and values clear. Throughout the entire book, Ralph turns to voting and consensus in order to make decisions. Everybody’s opinion matters, not solely