Ralph
vs. Jack
In
the book Lord of the Flies Ralph and Jack have very different
styles. Jack is all about action and having fun but he also rules
using fear. Jack rarely thinks things through and is more interested
in being worshiped as the bloody battle hero that escaping the
island. Ralph on the other hand is attempting to emulate the way
adults have controlled his life, using rules. When things get tough
for Ralph he uses the emotion of trying to get home to get his point
across. Rules and emotion work well for Ralph in the beginning but
as the children become more and more homesick and rescue seems very
far away Jack's way is becoming more popular.
Jack's tone by chapter 8 has gotten angrier. He accuses Ralph
of being a coward, using statements like “he's like Piggy. He
say's things like Piggy. He isn't a proper chief.” He goes on to
tell the other children about Ralph's cowardice on the mountain when
he says “on top, when Roger and me went on- he stayed back.” Of
course this is a lie Jack did go up the mountain and he was the
first to look around the big rock earlier in the book. Jack is
attempting to make Ralph look weak by making himself look strong.
By
chapter 8 Ralph is beginning to lose hope and his general tone
conveys nothing but fear. Ralph figures out that many of the
children have gone to Jack's side of the island. Ralph worries about
all the children and is the only one to notice that Simon is missing
completely. Ralph is attempting to be a good leader even through his
fear, which makes him one of the strongest people on the island.
Ralph tries to hide his fear by keeping busy looking after everyone
he says “We will have
to make a new list of who's to look after the fire.” When Ralph
figures out that so many children have gone fear grips him again.
Ralph is his strongest when he's looking after other people.
Unity should be the group's ultimate goal on the island. Just
like in society there is a job for everyone who is willing to work.
Even the smallest children can help a group find food and create
shelter. If the boys had separated right away on the island they
would all be dead by now. Ralph is trying to unite the children but
without the authority of adults he is having a hard time. Jack wants
to unite the children as well, as long as they are united in
worshiping him.
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