6. Major characters: - Ralph: Ralph is a twelve year old boy from England. He is athletic and has a golden body. Ralph has fair hair and also knows how to swim. His father taught him at the age of five. Ralph is very calm and fair to other, which many misjudge as weak. As the story’s protagonist, he represents the instinct of order and civilization. He was elected the group’s leader by the boys after they crashed on the island. Ralph’s main goal on the island is to get rescued. His father, a commander in the Navy, is who he believes is going to rescued them. Meanwhile, he will lead this group and help them survive on the island. He is the one who suggested that the boys build the fire to attract any passing ships. He aimed to build a mini …show more content…
He has asthma and wasn’t allowed to swim for that reason. He wears glasses, he’s had them since he was 3 years of age. His father is deceased, therefore he lived with his aunt. Piggy is a pushover and is very dependent on Ralph to do many things. Although he may be all of those, he is also very intelligent and rational. He’s the smartest boy on the island, also highly creative and inventive. Piggy’s biggest aspirations was to be heard. He always tried to voice his opinion on things, but in doing so, he was always mocked and disregarded. Even when the conch shell was around before it was crushed, whenever Piggy would use it to talk, Jack would prevent him and embarrass him instead. When he finally got the chance to talk, he’d be angry and just start babbling and complaining about the fact that they don’t give him a chance to talk. Piggy has many weaknesses. One of the main ones being his nickname “Piggy”. He detests when people call him that; it’s practically his ‘skeleton in the closet’. When Ralph told the rest of the boys his name, he wasn’t too pleased about it. He was very humiliated because Jack kept teasing him about it, making the other boys laugh too. Another one of his weaknesses is his body type. Since Piggy is fat, it disabled him to do many things, especially since he tires
Ralph's character is progressively broken down throughout the novel, only to be rebuilt stronger, and more knowledgeable in the end. If it wasn't for Ralph being hunted by Jack's tribe, the island would never be engulfed in flames; the boys would never be rescued. Thus, he also serves as the key character to the resolution of the novel. The events of the story prove that in a typical society, evil may gain control on occasion, but ultimatelyeverything will be balanced
There are many ways a person can be a Hero! Sometime it is the main character of the book, or sometime it could be an average person. In Golding’s book “Lord of the Flies”, Ralph is being portrayed as the leader and the hero. In the story the Lord of the Flies it’s about a group boys on a island after their plane is shot down. Since they are alone, they are free from the rules of civilization and society. This will lead to slowly descending into savagery. Soon the boys start having conflicts and they split into factions. One faction members are peacefully and work together to maintain order and achieve common goals. While the other faction are rebels
Piggy in the beginning of the book was using his common sense, he was intelligent, he knew what was right from wrong, and he could condone things that made him angry easily. In the beginning of the book, (pg. ) Ralph told everyone his name was Piggy even though Piggy specifically told Ralph that he didn't like to be called that name Piggy later condoned Ralph's action with great ease. Piggy's action's and behavior depended on his glasses. Piggy and his glasses symbolized intelligence, he represents the rational side of civilization. With the glasses it seemed as though Piggy made all the right choices, and he helped Ralph know what needed to be done with the tribe. Without his
In the first chapter of the novel Piggy finds the conch and comes up with the idea to use it to contact the other boys on the island. "'We can use this to call the others. Have a meeting. They'll come when they hear us”(Golding 16). Immediately we see Piggy coming up with ideas to benefit the boys. Throughout the book they use the conch to communicate with each other in a controlled way. He is using his brain to benefit the others and that's what he’s all about. Other boys in the story are selfish and don't really think about everyone, but Piggy automatically thinks about other’s first. Piggy is the voice of reason as he knows that building the shelters is crucial to the boys survival.
Both of the boys change a lot during their stay on the island. Ralph begins the novel as a leader and role model to the other boys. But eventually, the group gives in to savage instincts and Ralph's position
Ralph's first description about Piggy is the “fat boy” and this is a great example of how Ralph first sees Piggy as nothing but fat. “The fat boy waited to be asked his name…the fat boy stood by him breathing hard…’on account of my asthma and I’ve been wearing specs since I was three’”. Instead of asking Piggy his name Ralph refers to him as “the fat boy” only because of his overall appearance Ralph refuses to learn his name and when Piggy informs them of his asthma and his eyesight they judge him more, this is a perfect example of how the other characters judge Piggy because of his overall appearance. Piggy is once again ignored because of his physical appearance when jack says to him “‘there isn’t anything we can do. We ought to be more careful’. ‘I’m scared’- jack dragged his eyes away away from the fire ‘you're always scared Yah- fatty’” (Golding 45). This quote demonstrates that instead of listening to Piggy Jack rolls his eyes and calls him fat this shows that instead of respecting Piggy Jack decides to shun him down because of his perceived
“‘I don't care what they call me,’ [Piggy] said confidentially, ‘so long as they don't call me what they used to call me at school.’[...] ‘They used to call me 'Piggy.’(11)” Here, one can see that Piggy’s real name is not actually Piggy but, is meant to endure such a horrid name due to his looks. His body size causes the children around him to make fun of him and from then on, the name sticks with him till his very last moments. On this new island with new faces, Piggy’s suffering starts with the horrid name. From the moment Ralph tells the other boys about his name, the boys immediately start to treat him as a different person. These boys realize that on such an island with no other source of entertainment, the only other resort for these children is Piggy. One would assume that Piggy’s intelligence would be able to write off the insults and discrimination, but to these children, his intelligence served as a vulnerability as the boys use it to make him seem different from the others. Overall, Piggy acts as a source of entertainment for the boys. They want fun. They wanted entertainment. They want to enjoy the life without adults when they have the chance.
First, Piggy lacks what a necessary trait in any successful leader: charisma. He is socially awkward, and he has a hard time fitting in with the other boys his age. The boys have a hard time seeing anyone other than an overweight boy with big "specs". Piggy is also intellectually superior to the other boys. He has the rationale of an adult and is easily able to see the difference between what the boys should be doing and what they shouldn't be doing.
Both of the boys change a lot during their stay on the island. Ralph begins the novel as a leader and role model to the other boys. But eventually, the group gives in to savage instincts and Ralph's position
Piggy’s physical appearance contributes to his position as an outsider within the society of boys. When Piggy and Ralph first meet, Ralph remarks on Piggy’s shortness of breath to which Piggy responds, ¨ That’s right. Can’t catch my breath. I was the only boy in our school what had asthma, said the fat boy with a touch of pride, ‘And I’ve been wearing specs since I was three¨ (Golding 9). This quote describes Piggy as a fat boy with asthma and glasses, while the other boys are skinny and do not share any of the same characteristics as him. In addition, the author contributes to the outcasting Piggy by never revealing his real name and only describing Piggy as the “fat boy.” This proves that in this society, Piggy is not worth getting to
Piggy lectured them by asking how they could " expect to be rescued if [they] don't put first things first and act proper?" (45), which is something they did not want to hear, this was proven time and time again when the boys not let him speak without interruption even when he had the conch shell. Piggy's greatest asset was also his weakest point; the only way he could relate to the other boys was at an intellectual level, whereas the other boys could only relate on an emotional level. Ironically, in spite of his intelligence and logic, rational thought, from the beginning of the novel, Piggy was a social outcast.
Ralph starts out making the island seem fun, that this is a grand adventure they’re on. But he also believes that they need rules and order, so they don’t become savages and forget who they are. This is why he uses the conch to create order and a system of rules. Ralph becomes leader and starts giving people jobs and making a fire become the most important thing. He wants to be rescued and is trying to get them off the island as fast as possible. “While we’re waiting we can have a good time on this island… It’s like a book.” Ralph is trying to make light of a bad situation and making the island seem like a utopia that the boys can explore. In life people do this all the time, they sugar coat the truth to make it seem like it’s better that it is or fun when in
In a group, there are always people who prove to have better leadership skills then others. The strongest of these people can often influence the weaker people into following them. However, the strongest person is not necessarily the best leader as it is proven in William Golding's book, The Lord of the Flies. Although Ralph is the weaker person, he is still able to show a better understanding of people than Jack who is stronger. Ralph demonstrates his excellent leadership skills throughout the book by keeping the group in line, treating everyone with respect, and staying focused on getting rescued.
His nickname parallels the wild pigs that are hunted on the island, and it also represents his intelligence. Piggy portrays clear-sightedness and intelligence. He tries to keep peace and clings to civilization, and he is the smartest boy on the island even though he has no social skills. He does not like strenuous work so he refrains from physical work. His only contribution to survival on the island are his specs which become very important in lighting the signal and cooking fires.
Ralph is the main protagonist in the story and he is the leader of the children on the island. Since Ralph was voted leader, he has the characteristics of leadership and he brings civilization and order to the story. Unlike the other boys, Jack and Simon, Ralph’s main focus is to get off the island instead of having fun. For example, Ralph tried constructing huts with Simon; meanwhile, the boys are playing and running off having fun. In the beginning of the story, Ralph’s power with the children was secure; however, towards the end, that power is being transferred to Jack. Ralph represents the