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Power Struggle In Lord Of The Flies By William Golding

1064 Words5 Pages

Imagine being stranded on an island with nothing but a few other children, everybody is clueless, confused, and in need of a leader. In the book Lord of the Flies by William Golding a group of boys fall out of a plane getting stranded. These boys have nothing and nobody to rely on but themselves and each other. All brought together with a conch shell used as a kind of horn which drew the attention of everybody on the island. A meeting is held where they decide on a leader, this starts the struggle for power between Ralph and Jack. Which is a huge conflict lasting for the duration of the novel. The constant battle for leadership and power among Ralph and Jack create many problems among the boys putting many of them in danger. Power is very important …show more content…

At first, Jack's desire for power was subtle, but as he became more consumed with the idea, his actions became more aggressive and violent. This caused a rift between him and Ralph, who was initially elected as the leader. The rest of the boys were caught in the middle of this struggle, and they had to choose which side to align themselves with. Jack's influence over some of the boys, combined with his aggressive tactics, led to the breakdown of the democratic system and the emergence of a brutal dictatorship. This resulted in chaos, fear, and violence among the boys, and it ultimately led to the loss of their innocence and their descent into savagery. Jack is harming many people with his attitude and how “He [becomes] absorbed beyond mere happiness as he felt himself exercising control over living things. He talked to them, urging them, ordering them. Driven back by the tide, his footprints became bays in which they were trapped and gave him the illusion of mastery” (Golding 51). This quote illustrates Jack's desire for power and control, as he becomes obsessed with hunting and dominating the natural world on the island. His desire for control over living things is a precursor to his desire for control over the other boys, and it highlights his growing obsession with power and domination. Jack's power struggle had a profound and lasting impact on the rest of the boys, shaping their attitudes, behavior, and destiny on the

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