Analysis Of William Golding 's ' Lord Of The Flies '

There is always a leader to lead you in the right direction, but that is up to you and who you think is a good leader as in this book. Commanders show people the right direction and prove themselves as good role models. Through the revolt of two boys, Golding demonstrate that civilization can be either destroyed or made better by the right leader.

"Ralph, cradling the conch, rocked himself to and fro. 'Don't you understand, Piggy? The things we did—' 'He may still be—' 'No.' 'P'raps he was only pretending—'"

In the beginning of the book Ralph is treated as an equal by the other boys due to his personality. '"He's not Fatty, cried Ralph, his real name's Piggy... a storm of laughter arose and even the tiniest child joined in'" (21). Ralph's personality is very similar to the others' because when he he acts immature the boys all feel that it's funny instead of telling him he's wrong and that he should apologize. Just after they laugh at what he has to say they are accepting him into the group. In the beginning of the book Piggy is outlasted because of his personality. '"'I was with him when he found the conch. I was with no. Before anyone else was.' Jack and the others paid no attention'" (24). Piggy's personality here comes off as persistent and, seeing as jack wasn't really persistent on being the chief his personality doesn't match up with him. When they don't allow Piggy to come along with them they are out casting him because, they don't understand his persistence because they never have experienced it. Piggy instead of coming across as want to help and just being persistent comes off as being pushy and annoying. In the middle of the book Ralph is becoming divergent from the group. "'That's dirty!' Laughter rose again...'" (80). Ralph has shown that he has finally grown up and he's starting to act like it as well. Just after

Piggy is Ralph’s side kick and believes in having a government and having a say in politics, rejects mistreatment and name calling from others, and keeps loyalty to Ralph which effects the novel negatively. Piggy believes in keeping order in the boys. Piggy’s character isn’t liked by other characters, but he doesn’t let that stop him. He found the conch and he made it very clear he wanted to choose somebody as a leader for this republic. He choose Ralph to be the

Abraham Lincoln said, “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man 's character, give him power.” Power can destroy traces of civilization or bring forth civilization; it can be both a good or bad thing. In William Golding’s The Lord of the Flies, the entire island is power hungry and it is fueled by it. Leaving the boys alone on an island, without any grownups, left all the power and control in the boys’ hands, invading the island with anarchy. The boys are lead from hope to disaster as they attempt to survive in the isolated environment of the island. Golding’s The Lord of the Flies expresses how power influences people’s actions, as a major theme through symbols and events such as: the conch shell, Piggy’s glasses, the signal fire, the separation of the boys, and the sow’s head.

“Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart, and the fall through the air of the true, wise friend called Piggy. ”(Golding 225). Ralph shows that he also depended on Piggy for his input and advice, which signifies that he considered him a partner and friend. Ralph went through a loss of innocence as he accepted the change and learned an important lesson. The lesson being that becoming mature is a necessity in order for them to avoid chaos and tragedies.

Piggy is very smart and helpful to Ralph while he was in charge, whenever a decision came along Piggy’s thoughts

Ralph wants everyone to voice their opinion when they had the conch at assemblies. He only lets the person with the conch talk at the assembly, and when someone tries to cut in he would stand up for them. “Jack! Jack! You haven’t got the conch! Let him speak.” (91). This is how Ralph stood up for them, is someone would but in when someone else was talking with the conch. But he also had bullied piggy a little bit also, he does not really mean it but Piggy didn’t like it so much. “Piggy! Piggy!” (11). Piggy does not want people to know that’s what they used to call him but Ralph does not care at the beginning of the book. W.G. demonstrates great evidence of Ralph being a bully and a good person.

He says, “Which is better-to be a pack of painted Indians like you are. Or to be sensible like ralph is“(164). He admires responsibility and authority, which is why he elects Ralph to be a leader. The boys despise Piggy because of his maturity; the group believes they are here by themselves; the last thing they want to be reminded of is rules and civilization. This adult side to Piggy is shown elsewhere when he is thinking of many new ways to help control the kids around the island such as. “’[Piggy has] been thinking,‘ he said, about the clock.

Particularly with whom he is associated with. When Jack and him decide to go exploring, Ralph picks Simon, and cruelly rejects Piggy’s offer of help “Piggy stirred. ‘I'll come’. Ralph turned on him. ‘You're no good on a job like this’.” At this point Jack says “‘We don't want you’”, and Ralph does not even stand up for Piggy. “Jack and the others paid no attention”. Ralph does not acknowledge Piggy, and leaves him “bumbling behind them”( 20- 21,Golding). Ralph could already tell by the boys attitudes towards Piggy, that he would be connotated with him. This is not what he wanted, so he decides to be mean to Piggy to prevent this ‘atrocity’. Ralphs’ eagerness to please everyone is also shown right after he beats Jack in the election for chief. “ He [Jack] started up, then changed his mind and sat down again while the air rang. Ralph looked at him, eager to offer something. ‘The choir belongs to you of course’”(19, Golding). Ralph was just elected the head, and already he is handing over the management of about half the kids to someone else. Jack was embarrassed about losing in front of everyone, but what would compel someone to relinquish half the responsibility one has just acquired? Ralph see’s that Jack is upset and angry and then because he wants to fit in he decides to part with some of the

Certainly, with his asthma and extra weight, he cannot compete against the more athletic boys such as Ralph and Jack. For, example, when the boys make a rescue fire, Piggy arrives too late to assist with this work. And, while he is more rational than the others, he is unable to put into action some of his more reasonable ideas because Jack heckles him, telling him such things as that the conch has no significance on the mountain, thus undermining Piggy's authority to speak. Later, he berates Piggy when he criticizes both him and Ralph in Chapter

Piggy is overweight, wears glasses, and “was the only boy in our school what had asthma,” (Golding 3). He has a slightly different accent from the rest, when he tells Ralph about his asthma Ralph replies with, “Sucks to your ass-mar!” (Golding 8). Piggy is also one of the most logical thinker in the group, “what intelligence had been shown was traceable to Piggy,“ (Golding 19). From the very beginning he never had respect, he is seen as the ultimate Omega.

Ralph is also extremely naive and doesn’t fully think things through. This is demonstrated when he says to Piggy, “‘I could swim when I was five. Daddy taught me. He’s a commander in the Navy. When he gets leave he’ll come and rescue us.’”

William Golding fulfills Hobbes’ ideas about man with Lord of the Flies in the moments when Jack and Ralph argue over whether to hunt for meat or build shelters, when Simon is killed by the boys, and when Samneric betray Ralph and join Jack’s tribe.

The theme of leadership is uncovered by the symbol of the conch. As the connection grows between the protagonist and the conch, outer forces break the bond in attempt to take the position as leader. Ralph along with other boys in Lord of the Flies by William Golding are trapped on an island due to the crash of their airplane. With no adults on the island to discipline the boys, one must step up and take on this role. The discovery of the conch encourages Ralph to become chief, Ralph has the ability to use the conch to enforce his rules, but the unfortunate shattering of the conch breaks Ralphs hold on to leadership.