As the elected leader of the boys, Ralph understands the importance of rules in order to maintain a civil society and eventually be rescued from the uninhabited island. Ralph believes that creating rules will help organize the group of boys and motivate them to complete necessary tasks that will increase their chances of rescue. Unfortunately, Jack and his hunters begin to neglect the rules and Ralph fails to properly punish them, which makes the situation worse. In chapter 5, Ralph holds an assembly to address the fact that none of the boys are completing the tasks agreed upon during the previous assemblies. Ralph knows that sticking to an agreed set of rules is the only thing stopping the boys from sliding into a state of complete anarchy. While the boys are willing to behave in a semi-civilised manner and keep the fire lit there is a slim chance of rescue but once they start disobeying the rules the fire will go unlit and all hope of rescue will go with it. When Jack ignored the rules at the meeting in chapter 5 and said "Who cares?" Ralph replied quite simply, "Because the rules are the only thing we've got." …show more content…
Ralph feels his role as chief keenly, knowing that the boys will have to act responsibly to take care of one another. Later after the boys run off to make a signal fire in haphazard fashion, Ralph reminds the boys of the importance of keeping rules and order. As the chief of the tribe of stranded boys, Ralph knows it is in his and the other boys' best interest to maintain some semblance of order while they are in the island. At the second tribal meeting, Ralph emphasizes the importance of maintaining decorum as he reminds the