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The Hero, Scapegoat, And Innocent Youth Archetypes In Lord Of The Flies

Decent Essays

Although Ralph shows good leadership skills, he also has weaknesses like everyone else. In the novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding, Ralph portrays the Hero, Scapegoat, and Innocent Youth Archetypes. Ralph demonstrates the Hero Archetype when he becomes chief, when he helps build shelters to sleep in, when he stood up to Jack, when he went to look for the beast, and lastly when he tried to help Piggy get his specs back. Ralph also demonstrates the Scapegoat Archetype when he was attacked, when he was hiding from the savages, when he was seen by a savage and got frightened, and when he realized he lost his innocence. Ralph’s innocent youth is also shown when Ralph squirted water at Piggy, when he imagined the group being rescued, and when he asked a question he already knew the answer to.
Ralph’s leadership and help he offers to everyone in the group clearly shows his connection to the Hero Archetype. Ralph wanting to be chief and being chosen to be chief by the group, “‘Who wants me?’ Every hand outside the choir...was raised immediately… Ralph counted. ‘I’m chief then.’” (Golding 19). This shows Ralph’s heroism because everyone voted for him to be chief and he wanted to take that leadership role to guide the group. Ralph helped the group build shelters and he built the most, “We all built the first one, four of us the second, and me ‘n’ Simon built the last one…” (Golding 85). This shows how Ralph is a hero because he is doing his fair share of work and more, for the benefit of others. When Ralph stood up to Jack because Jack was going against Ralph and challenging his position as leader. Ralph said to him, “Why do you hate me?” (Golding 129). This shows Ralphs heroism because he chose to show bravery rather than coware like a hero would. When the group was worried about the beast and Ralph was reassuring them and offered to go look for the beast. The group was talking about the beast and Ralph said, “We’ll go and look.” (Golding 133). This shows how Ralph connects to heroism because he made a selfless act that would put his life at risk for the sake of others. When Jack took Piggy’s specs and Ralph tried to help Piggy get them back. Ralph said to Jack, “...You’ve got to give them back.” (Golding 195).

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