The boys knew Ralph would do what is right and best and in the end what they truly wanted. The other boys would be happy that they got a say in what happened on the island as well. Ralph did not change much in the novel, he mostly stuck to his ways of civilization, law, order and rescue. He tasted the urge of savagery in the novel and understands why the other boys have acted so savagely. Although he realized he must stay civilized and did not change.
Golding shows that although Ralph’s leadership starts off strongly, authority based on order will not survive due to man’s savage nature. Like in a democracy, Ralph gets the position of authority when the boys elect him as their leader. As chief,
Have you ever done something that you knew was wrong but did it anyway? Most people have. But why is it so terrifying? It's so scary because when you do something wrong, there is always a punishment waiting for you. It's the adrenaline rush before you get caught, that makes people partake in more risky behavior.
In the Roman Empire, England, France, and the Middle East, ever since people have been around, there has always been conflict and fighting. A common theme in war is inhumanity. For example, in World War I mustard gas would produce terrible blisters on soldiers who were exposed to it. Empathy for those suffering young men was not present in those causing the pain.
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
Non conformity by definition is failure or refusal to conform to a prevailing rule or practice. When in large groups everyone responds to the group differently. Typically the best people in society don’t conform with the majority easily. In Lord of the Flies by William Golding, Simon does not conform to the group of boys on the island. Similarly to Simon, Juror 8 in “Twelve Angry Men” doesn’t conform to the group.
Most of his rebellion, though, comes from his jealousy of power--power that Ralph kept pointing out in his speech: “ ‘Now I say this and make it a rule, because I’m chief’ … ‘All this I meant to say. Now I’ve said it. You voted me for chief. Now you do what I say’ ” (Golding 81).
In William Golding’s book, Lord of the Flies, most of the characters demonstrate decision making that helps them in the moment, not ones that help in the long run. One of the few characters to act differently than this, is Simon. More than once, Simon has spoken and said things that almost suggest he knows what is to come. During one of the meetings that was held where they discussed the beast, Simon steps forward and offers the idea that the beast is only them (Golding 89). Later in the book, we learn that Simon is correct in his suggestion, and that the beast is only “mankind’s essential illness”, not some giant thing that wants to kill them all.
Kill the pig! Cut his throat! Kill the pig! Bash him in! (Golding 114).
William Golding uses the theme that humans are naturally bad at heart, in the book Lord of the Flies to highlight that without the order and respect we choose to live our daily lives with our human nature will ultimately take us into chaos and savagery. Morals are what we choose to live by, this is what keeps us accountable. Morals do not appear overnight. Overtime they are ingrained throughout our childhood. Giving us a sense of right and wrong.
Being a leader is a weight responsibility that can be very challenging at times and can overwhelm some. Despite this, Ralph demonstrated that he knew that there needed to be rules and that he could carry the load of being a chief, that he was able to make sure everyone was as safe as possible, and he made sure that he was able to let loose once in a while. In the begging of the essay, the idea of children being somewhere on an island seemed like an ok idea, but when they are going to be there for an unknown amount of time, things can get crazy and people can change. Because of human nature, the boys were most likely expected just to play and mess around, which technically they did do, but under Ralph’s command they were able to get a few beneficial things
In society, there are many standards that people must uphold to. In western society, it is uncommon for men to have long hair or for women to have short hair. Naturally, people will be conscientious of their differences between other people and try to change them or cover them up, and often times people who do not follow the standard are looked down upon. This leads to people trying to fit into the groups around them almost thoughtlessly. However, when people conform without thinking, it can lead to dangerous consequences.
Being under a dictatorship can demolish any kind of sanity one has. Now Ralph has realized what power and manipulation can do to one person. He never intentionally plans on becoming a savage, and unfortunately, he misses his dignity. In response, Boyd comments, “It is rather the coming of an awareness of darkness, of the evil in man’s heart that was present in the children all along” (Boyd 27). His elaboration explains how the beast was not only in Ralph but in all of the young boys.
“Would you rather be loved or feared?” ~ Machiavelli. All humans would like to be loved rather than feared and to have someone on your side is one of the best feelings of all. In Lord of the Flies acquiring followers and friends was a big obstacle for some.
This can be seen while Ralph starts to complain that even though they “‘have a lot of assemblies’” the things that they decide on “‘don’t get done’” (Golding ,72). Ralph is still trying his very best to keep the ideals of a democratic and an “adult” society upheld even though it is crumbling at the seams. The fact is that he can’t quite find a way to control the boys and get them to conform to this way of thinking which begins to set the stage to the problems that will occur. (add
