ipl-logo

Who Is The Authoritarian In Lord Of The Flies

555 Words3 Pages

In the novel “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding there is an authoritarian character named Jack. Thomas Hobbes, a philosopher, would make the conclusion that Jack will eventually rule the group in a monarchy type government. Even though he attempts to be diplomatic, Jack always resorts to using fear to gain his power, embodying the philosophies of Thomas Hobbes. Jack always shows his power over the other kids by being angry and calling them names. “Shut up” said Jack. Then, looking angrily at piggy said, “Fatty” (Golding 20). Jack said this because Piggy was trying to share his idea and Jack was done listening. Hobbes might of predicted this because he believed that the king should flaunt his power and remind everyone he is better so they feel they have no choice except follow him. …show more content…

Piggy began to harass Jack so he “stuck his fist into Piggy’s stomach” (Golding 71). Hobbes would think that Jack felt he was losing power and he had to do something to show his superiority to Piggy. “The government must have a near absolute authority in order to rule effectively.” (Lock, Hobbes overview). Jack had no choice but to hit Piggy or the others would see that Piggy is more powerful than him. Jack attempted to take a Locke approach in the meeting after they saw the beast. After Jack described how Ralph cowardly ran away he strongly said, "Hands up," followed with, "whoever wants Ralph not to be chief?" (Golding 127). This was unlike Hobbes philosophy because he would of predicted that Jack would of said he was starting his own group and demand that they follow him or

Show More
Related
368 Words | 2 Pages

Piggy’s differences from the other boys caused Jack to dislike him. Jack didn 't like piggy cause he was different than everyone else. Piggy was bigger

Read More
1039 Words | 5 Pages

He sees himself as Ralph’s equal and is angered when Piggy a boy that, in Jack’s point of view, is useless. For example, there are many instances where he shows his distaste for Piggy and jealousy in his situation. “[to Piggy] Who cares what you believe- Fatty!” (81), “[to Piggy] You shut up, you fat slug!”(82), and showing his jealousy, “[to Ralph]

Read More
824 Words | 4 Pages

In the book Jack is always making fun of Piggy. Jack was being rude to Piggy and saying his fat behind doesn’t do nothing to help while piggy was trying to talk. However some of the time Piggy stands up for himself, “I got the conch … you let me speak!”(Golding 33). Piggy illustrates how its not easy to have integrity. This is because whenever he tries to talk the others mainly Jack just tell him to shut up or take his glasses from him making him feel uncomfortable.

Read More
1060 Words | 5 Pages

This means that in the beginning of the story Jack still has that piece of innocence left, and thinks that killing that pig is not the right thing to do, but later on in the story he becomes the pig killer. Piggy argues with Jack about how Jack is a human not an animal, which shows how Jack cares more about killing the pigs instead of actually helping get rescued. This reveals that now in the story Jack is considered like an animal to Piggy because all he does is hunt for pigs like an animal predator, and how he does not care at all about being rescued. These things together show that Jack is not in the right state of mind to help the others for their rescue, instead he is so focused on killing the pigs that if it was up to him he would stay on the island, he has completely forgotten the real reason why they ended up on the island and their plan to survive for their rescue. Jack doesn't like how they have to follow the rules the chief (Ralph) has given them.

Read More
1511 Words | 7 Pages

Piggy is fat, brilliant, lacking in social graces, and wears glasses, in other words the outsider on this island. Due to Piggy being such an foreigner, Jack feels that he is above Piggy, and feels better when he causes Piggy pain and sorrow. For example, “‘You’re talking too much,’ said Jack Merridew. ‘Shut up Fatty,’” (21). In this scene you can see power in Piggy’s lack thereof.

Read More
459 Words | 2 Pages

The quote shows how Jack is becoming less civilized and becoming more barbaric and wild. Jack has a great desire for power and dominance over the group and made it obvious when he said, “I’m chief…I’ll give the orders”(Golding, page 55). Here he shows his true savage nature by not wanting the democratic principles like the others and forcing them to follow what he wanted.

Read More
965 Words | 4 Pages

When children are put in a environment with no adult supervision they believe that there will be no consequences for their actions and act on their bad decisions. In the book Lord of the Flies by William Golding, the themes are always changing and are best suited with the current situation the boys find themselves in. Jack, Ralph, and Simon are three of the main characters, and always find themselves having to deal with a new problem day by day on the island. Jack is a very easy character to describe, his name having the meaning “to seize by force”.

Read More
809 Words | 4 Pages

First, Jack disregarded all of his important duties in order to prove his strength when he finally killed his first animal. He knew that it would be more beneficial to keep a fire going as a ship passed by, and it had been explicitly demanded of him by the members of his tribe, especially Ralph. However, finally conquering his fear was all that he could think about, while avidly exclaiming, “I cut the pig’s throat” (Golding 52). His hubris during this moment made it clear that his wish for approval and respect is much greater than his desire to escape from the island, or his original skepticism to lose his innocence by shedding blood. Also, at the beginning of the novel when Jack is introduced, he taunts Piggy, immediately, saying, “Shut up, fatty” (Golding 15).

Read More
607 Words | 3 Pages

When the first meeting took place and the leader was being decided Jack stood up and stated, “I ought to be chief, “because I’m chapter chorister and head boy” (22). Although, he wasn’t elected to become chief he demonstrates “simple arrogance” (22) enough to position himself as commanding person. Thomas Hobbes illustrated a human frightening enough to control over everyone else and Jack is an intimidating human being capable of controlling people. Hobbes’s type of leadership is exactly how Jack

Read More
689 Words | 3 Pages

1) In the meritorious novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn written by Mark Twain, there was a character by the name of Pap, his name was never mentioned in the actual book but he was a major influence on the events that would take place in Huck’s life, such as the reason he would able to have his adventure in the first place and was a key figure in what was what not to be when someone were to be a father or mother. 2) Huck’s father, Pap, was extremely jealous of those who were supposedly greater than him when it came to social and economic power, and he was the kind of man who did not want others to surpass him, for example, when Pap began ridiculing Huck for getting an education, Pap was the kind of person, who, under extreme situations where he wants to feel superior to others he would

Read More
813 Words | 4 Pages

Leadership Abuse in Lord of the Flies The famous 17th century poet Jean de la Fontaine once said “Anyone entrusted with power will abuse it if not also animated with the love of truth and virtue, no matter whether he be a prince, or one of the people.” When the children in Lord of the Flies find themselves stranded on a distant island with no adults to be found, they encounter many forms of power, hence encountering many forms of abuse of power as well. This power abuse can be organized by the two leaders who each ruled the island during their own periods. In Lord of the Flies, William Golding utilizes these leaders, Ralph and Jack, to illustrate how people in positions of power will abuse their power for personal gain when given the opportunity.

Read More
1999 Words | 8 Pages

Jack stood over him. His voice was vicious with humiliation. ‘... “Jack smacked Piggy’s head. Piggy’s glasses flew off and tinkled on the rocks. Piggy cried out in terror’”

Read More
681 Words | 3 Pages

In the novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding, Ralph and Jack compete to have the title of chief, this illustrates Golding's message that in society dictatorship can be more successful than democracy. Characters in this novel resemble people in WWII. Jack is a symbol of dictatorship and Ralph is a symbol of democracy. Though in the beginning of the novel Ralph had control, Jacks dictatorship caused him to take total control. Between the two boys Jack is the more successful leader.

Read More
614 Words | 3 Pages

In William Golding’s, “Lord of the Flies,” the boys are stranded on an Island, after a plane crash. They quickly learn that the island is a beautiful paradise, and this isn't quite a punishment, but a vacation. The availability of food makes the boys living situation more enjoyable, there are plenty of pigs and fruit trees to feed the boys, and although it can be quite enjoyable, Jack almost makes things almost harder on the boys because he displays the negative qualities of Thomas Hobbes. The way Jack treats the boys on the island, and the way he acts on the island proves that he does not have the qualities of John Locke, which are needed to be in a leadership position for the boys on the island.

Read More
685 Words | 3 Pages

Throughout the story, he goes to great lengths to stay in power over others. Everyone on the island is afraid of what they do not know. Their action of violence is promoted by fear, this fear leads the group of boys to choose Jack as their leader since he poses as the most powerful between Ralph and him. In “Animal Farm” by George Orwell, there is a farm of animals that took the farm from the humans. Their leader is now a power hungry pig.

Read More

More about Who Is The Authoritarian In Lord Of The Flies

Related Topics

Open Document