However, as Ralph’s power obtained through the role as chief steadily diminishes, his ego tends to be less exhibited in his behavior. When Ralph is first elected chief, his ego is patently shown throughout his personality, exhibiting logical thinking in order to promote discipline. He suggests rules, including how one must “hold [the conch] when he’s speaking” (33). The conch, a symbol for order, represents Ralph’s authority while on the island.
A symbol, a word by definition means, a material object representing something immaterial. The character Jack Merridew, in Lord of The Flies symbolizes chaos, insanity, and ego. In Lord of The Flies Jack Merridew symbolizes chaos by demanding, “’ We want meat’” (51).
Because Jack enjoys hunting thinks that it’s more important than being rescued. The boys are longer serious and don’t seem intent on getting rescued anymore. The group is getting divided and Jack is getting more aggressive, always challenging Ralph’s authority. And the boys are no longer carrying out their jobs because they’re always too busy having fun.
Throughout the novel, Jack consistently demonstrates a disregard for rules and a desire for dominance and power. When he leads the boys in hunting and violence, he taps into their savage and primal instincts - including Ralph’s. As Jack proclaims, "The conch doesn't count at this end of the island" (Golding, 150) it becomes evident that he prioritizes dominance and power over order, authority, and the established rules on the island. In the midst of their destructive rivalry, Jack’s failures teach Ralph important lessons. Witnessing Jack’s inability to maintain the signal fire makes Ralph recognize the value of collaboration, communication, and planning for survival.
Could the boys in lord of the flies have made a society that worked? I feel like there were multiple ways they could have made it work. Some of them being if Ralph was just a little bit meaner. Or maybe if they kicked jack out. And the final but one of the best reasons is if Ralph would have concentrated on that day not just the future when he is back home.
Since the beginning, the conch has been a symbol of democracy and order for Ralph and the boys. However, with his authority steadily decreasing, Ralph fears all hope is lost if he blows the conch and the boys do not respond. This loss of power is due to Ralph’s lack of assertiveness over the likes of Jack and others despite having been elected leader. His strict focus on the conch’s meaning and inability to understand the different priorities of others portrays his narrow-minded thinking as well. While many such as Jack prioritize hunting, Ralph prioritizes matters such as the conch that are not important to the others, resulting in his decline in authority.
After rallying everyone together using the conch Ralph, “...lifted the conch.” and says ‘"Seems to me we ought to have a chief to decide things,"’ (Golding 16). By being the one to bring everyone together Ralph is an immediate leader and establishes himself quickly as an important figure. With the new found order on the island peace and stability is found amongst the boys. However, Ralph near the end of the story comes to the realization that, “There was no chance of rescuing them and building up an outlaw tribe at the other end of the island. Samneric were savages like the rest; Piggy was dead, and the conch smashed to powder,” (Golding 145).
Ralph wakes up from his sleep and he hears Jack torturing one of the twins. Jack eventually finds where Ralph is and uses the smoke from a fire to get him out of his hiding spot. Raph being smoked out means that he has to run away. He then fends his way out from the other boys. Ralph runs through the forest after fending his way through to see a beach with a naval officer right there.
The changing relationship between Ralph and Jack, the protagonist and antagonist in Lord of the Flies is one where these two boys at first seem like allies but quickly diverge and distance themselves apart and soon become completely at odds with one another. Due to the different approaches they take in the leadership of a group of boys stranded on an uninhabited island, the group splits into two opposing and even warring factions, showing the severity of their antagonism. In the beginning, relations between Ralph and Jack are not as hostile. When they explore their island, they appear to act like friends, fooling around and casually playing.
On the island, he is burdened with responsibilities such as leadership and organization. Despite Jack encouraging and pressuring his inner savage to come out, Ralph continues to contribute to the enhancement of society. Even after partaking in Simon’s murder and acting savagely, he does not fully give himself over to it. Ralph instantly feels remorse and guilt for his actions: essential human qualities. Golding makes this evident and describes, “Ralph, cradling the conch, rocked himself to and fro” (Golding 157).
Hunting maintains Jack’s number one priority. He leads the hunting group who all believe getting meat is the most important task. Ralph, the chief on the other hand has a different opinion. He believes being rescued should be everybody’s goal. It is only Piggy who stands with Ralph.
Ralph's attempt at leading the boys demonstrates the overbearing extension of governmental power. Jack contradicts Ralph’s leadership and the authority of the conch: “‘Who are you, anyway? Sitting there telling people what to do. You can't hunt, you can't sing―’ ‘I'm chief. I was chosen.’
Ralph is first introduced as the fair boy who is a natural born leader. He applies Piggy’s intelligence to think of a way to summon the other survivors on the island. Ralph follows through with Piggy’s idea and uses the conch which emits a loud sound that can be hear through the island. The sound eventually lures the group of boys towards them. His leader instincts are best portrayed when he’s able to side with Jack after offering to share his power: “The suffusion drained away from Jack’s face.
Lord of the Flies was written by William Golding, an award winning Nobel Prize in Literature British author. William Golding was born on September 11, 1911, in Saint Columb Minor, Cornwall, England. Golding wrote Lord of the Flies that soon became published on September 17, 1954. In the story, two characters that have a lot of differences between each other are Ralph and Jack. Examples of some of their differences include the fact that Ralph is a leader, Jack wants to be in control of things, and they both have different goals they want to achieve on the island.
Ralph and Jack have very different leadership styles, goals, and morals which, as a result, leads to different behaviour from their followers. In the novel “The Lord of The Flies,” Ralph is a civilized leader whereas Jack is uncivilized and on the path towards savagery. As their time on the island increases, Jack’s interest on being rescued decreases. Unlike Jack, Ralph is mainly focused on being rescued and keeping the rules and regulations of the island in order while Jack is consumed by hunting. Ralph was a chosen leader who always treats his followers with respect and gives them full attention when they have something to say (using the conch).
