Who Is Ralph's Leadership In Lord Of The Flies

Best of the Boys to Lead

In the novel Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, leadership is needed for survival. Ralph, one of the older boys, posses certain qualities that make him the best suited to be leader. Ralph, unlike others, is able to make quick decisions and is smart enough to figure out what is needed, not only to live peacefully, but also to survive. The goal of most of the boys is salvation from the dreaded island; Ralph is the only boy who offers and sticks to a plan of action. Ralph exhibits great compromising skills which are needed to keep many boys, like Jack, from breaking rules and becoming wild. Ralph is respected by many of the boys because he has the conch, a symbol of order and power, but also because was elected

Staying alive is not just about food but it is also about having “an assembly. Not for fun. Not for laughing and falling off the log [...] Not for these things. But to put things straight” (Golding 79). Ralph sees that they need order and structure, just like in the real world. During the time on the island Ralph sets ground rules that are necessary for the boys to live somewhat normal lives. Ralph makes rules such as “the rocks for a lavatory. Keep the fire going and smoke showing as a signal. Don’t take the fire from the mountain. Take your food up there” (Golding 81). These rules make the boys’ life on the island easier and more normal, just like back in

These compromises keep many people at bay so that they can focus on more important things. Jack, however, is one of the boys that demands more power or he will attack and cause chaos. To prevent chaos Ralph says, “The choir belongs to you, of course” (Golding, 23). Ralph grasps the fact that to keep the peace he has created he must allow Jack to have power over something even as minor as a few choir boys. With these compromising skills, Ralph also is willing to hear others’ perspectives. Willing to listen to the savages, Ralph decides to “go to this feast and tell them the fire is hard on [all of them]. And the hunting and all that, being savages, [Ralph] means - it must be jolly good fun” (Golding 142). Being able to listen to others helps Ralph make rules that everyone will agree with, such as the schedules made to run the fire. This proves he is the best leader and that his compromising skills create peace among the