Premium Essay

Ralph As The Leader In Lord Of The Flies

Submitted By
Words 274
Pages 2
In Lord of the Flies by William Golding, the character Ralph is seen as the new leader of the survivors of the plane crash. In my opinion, I see the character Ralph as an overbearing leader who thinks too much of himself. I think of Ralph this way because numerous times in the book he is mentioned being a good leader while other times being a rude friend and an inconsiderate person. Ralph comes up with good ideas, but does not realize what the effect of his ideas will end in. In the book it states, “We must make a fire” (Golding 38). This quote shows a good idea, produced by Ralph, to make a fire to signal help but he takes this idea out of hand. Later in the reading he mentions to add more wood to make the fire bigger which causes a wildfire

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Lord Of The Flies Jack Character Analysis

...In Goldberg's novel, Lord of the Flies, Jack has been a character that has remained evil, dangerous and power hungry. The author demonstrates this by Jack's emotions, behavior, and physical characterization. In the beginning of the book, Jack's emotions shows how he thinks he deserves resect right away. In Lord of the Flies, it says, “‘Kids’ names,’ said Merridew. ‘Why should I be Jack? I'm Merridew’” (Goldberg 21). In this case, Jack believes that he deserves respect from the boys’ right away. Jack thinks that he was above everyone else. When you want to go by your last name, that means you want to receive more authority and respect from others. By going by his last name, Jack has more domenice, that leads to power and respect. Another reason...

Words: 1125 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Ralph Lord Of The Flies Character Analysis Essay

...and his name is Ralph. Ralph’s character in The Lord of The Flies is pictured to be like an all around athlete, a class clown and a class president all in one. He may only be twelve, but he makes a major impact throughout the story. In Lord of The Flies the author points out some of Ralph’s major character traits, which are that he is carefree, insightful and motivated. William Golding shows how Ralph can be a laid back carefree preteen boy who in the beginning does not worry about being stranded and just wants to have fun while he is on the island. He also shows that Ralph can be a insightful leader who remains calm in scary situations, and that he can make good quick decisions while under pressure. One final trait is that Ralph is also...

Words: 922 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Parents and Entitlement in Huck Finn

...'LORD OF THE FLIES' by William Golding “Revision notes can never replace knowing the books thoroughly” J.W.Evans These notes should be used as pointers to the directions that your thoughts might take. They are not meant to replace your reading of the novel, you must still do that yourself.. CHARACTERISATION Never forget that we are talking about a group of boys whose maximum age is twelve. RALPH Does he represent all that is good in people? Tall, fair-skinned, blond hair, very athletic, natural leader although not that good a leader as many of his decisions are questionable, which ones?. He is middle-class, father a naval officer. Elected leader but not forceful enough to maintain position. Eventually he loses support and is reduced to the status of an outcast who must flee for his life. Ralph is an idealist and a dreamer. He needs Piggy to think for him. He finds the Conch but Piggy tells him how to use it. At the end of the book, he is a disillusioned realist who now sees his world and its inhabitants for what they are. JACK MERRIDEW Does he represent the worst in people? He is thin, tall, with red hair, light blue eyes and freckles. Leader of the choir, he becomes the leader of the hunters. Increasingly in conflict with Ralph and more particularly, Piggy, he breaks away, forms his own tribe and splits the group. He manages to get the support to do this by offering the boys the attraction of the hunting life and then by terrorising them. In the...

Words: 3535 - Pages: 15

Premium Essay

Simon Lord Of The Flies Death Essay

...Death can cause different responses in people. When someone you know dies, many thoughts go around your mind. Some people become murderous in revenge, others become sad and depressed and shut out the world. The Lord of the Flies is a novel about a group of boys that are in a plane crash and became stranded on an island. The boys are forced to adapt to their environment and struggle to survive and in the process, several of the boys are lost. Simon’s death is the most important event in the Lord of the Flies because it leads to character development in Ralph and Jack, it also emphasizes the depravity of man. Simon’s death is the most important event because it is a significant event in the plot that adds to themes and helps character's develop. Simon’s death is the arrival of evil on the island within the boys, this is where they begin to realize they are becoming mad. After Simon was killed on the stormy night down on the beach the...

Words: 1384 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

William Golding's Lord Of The Flies

...If you haven't read the book lord of the flies this essay won’t spoil to much for you. This essay is about the two main characters: Ralph and Jack, and who would be a better leader. Again the book is Lord Of The Flies, which is by William Golding.The book is realistic fiction. The book lord Of The Flies is about a group of boys who crash land on an island with no grown ups and have to build a civil society to survive. Ralph is a better leader than Jack because he is more determined, respectful, and civilized. To start, Ralph is more determined. Ralph was always focused on getting rescued, Jack didn't really care that much about getting rescued. That's why Ralph wanted to keep the fire going no matter what happened so they had a chance...

Words: 489 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Ancient Greece

...Mar, Alexa Period 2 Mr.O The Lord Of The Flies Which is better, to have laws and agree, or to hunt and kill? A symbol is something that has great value. William Golding wrote the novel, “Lord of the Flies”. His purpose in using symbolism is to send certain messages to certain people. He wants to send a message to make people realize that you can change for the better or for the worst. I believe the most important symbol in LOTF is the conch. The conch is the most important because it represents leadership and unity. The conch represents leadership. With the help of the conch, Ralph became the tribe’s leader. “But there was a stillness about Ralph…yet most powerfully there was the conch.” (pg.22). This shows that Ralph became leader mostly because of the conch. The conch was powerful to them. Ralph became their leader. In the article, the author states, “Ralph: leadership: order: Civilization.” This shows that Ralph is capable of being a leader. In society, leadership is important because without leaders, there will be no one to lead us to a great change. The conch represents authority. The stranded boys are deciding for a chief. “He lifted the conch. ‘Seems to me we ought to have a chief to decide things.’” (pg.22) This shows the boys voting for a chief to have order. Anyone who has the conch may speak with no interruptions since it was tumult. On the article, the author states, “…Anyone holding the conch in...

Words: 807 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Lotr Essay

...and darkness of man’s heart has coexisted since the earliest of times. William Golding’s award-winning novel, Lord of the Flies, is one that captures this very judgment. A group of young British schoolboys who were once innocent and pure of heart are quickly devoured by the dark powers of destruction, savagery, and murder. However, even with these destructive powers at hand, the young schoolboys along with their distant memories of being in a civilized society, fight in an epic battle to try and prevent the full outbreak of evil. Golding illustrates the never-ending combat of “good” and “evil”, amidst the young schoolboys and the Beast; Ralph, the democratic leader, contrary to Jack, who favoured dictatorship; and the strength of civilization versus the forces of human nature. First and foremost, the story displays the constant conflicts between the innocence of the British schoolboys and the dark nature of what they come to know as the Beast. An example of this is when the twins Sam and Eric encounter the Beast in Chapter Six: "Beast From Air." In the beginning of the chapter, Sam and Eric, who were on duty to watch the fire, falls asleep as a dead parachutist falls from the war in the adult world and lands on the island. When they awake from their sleep, they noticed a “figure that hung with dangling limbs” (103) and mistake it as the Beast. Sam describes to Ralph that the Beast was ‘“furry”’ and that ‘“there was something moving behind its head – wings”’ (108). By recalling...

Words: 1542 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

William Golding's Lord Of The Flies

...these cherished books as out of its time era; in reality, these books contain important values and newly learned reading skills that can help students in the future. Lord of the Flies has a good, timeless plot that quickly reels readers in. The theme behind the story can teach readers necessary knowledge that is still useful in today’s society. In addition, Golding’s masterpiece contains good diction and although challenging, a great learning tool to all readers. The theme and memorable characters in William Golding’s Lord of the Flies is important to all standards of education and should remain on library shelves. The intensity builds from the first page as a group...

Words: 680 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Lord of the Flies

....: The Lord Of The Flies :. Persuasive Essay Junior English 3rd Hour Zach Jones In the story “The Lord of The Flies we encountered a most interesting situation where a group of young boys are stranded on an island, presumably far away from all other land masses, where three boys stood out as leaders, of those who wanted order of stability. Those boys, Piggy, Ralph, and Jack all went about contributing as leaders, though Ralph was an actual leader, if only for a time, while Jack (a boy who has the whole “holier than thou” aspect going on and is power hungry) eventually steals away Ralph’s power and followers, but before that was the head of his own sect, the choir boys. However though ralph was pushed out of power (except for his few followers, Piggy -till his death-, Samneric, and Simon –until his death-) and the fact that jack took over in an occult like manner I suppose, Ralph is the one boy I believe is the proper leader for the boys, because he has rational human emotions like compassion, care, kindness, calmness, level-headedness add to that he is not a crazy narcissistic war monger with superiority issues like Jack nor does he like to control people using fear and other sneaky underhanded methods, and he seemed to be a guy you could get along with. Though Ralph isn’t mad with power or rules using fear or shady ways in general, he lacked the proper leadership experience to handle the boys as shown in the way he lost the vastest majority of them to Jack. In Jack’s...

Words: 844 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Allusions In Lord Of The Flies Essay

...How would you survive an island full of rambunctious boys? Lord of the Flies, written by William Golding is an allegorical novella that uses allusions, symbolism, and irony to convey the idea that evil is within us. The story takes place during World War II, when a group of schoolboys are being evacuated from England. They crash on a deserted island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and have to fight for their lives in a new and strange environment. Two of the boys, Ralph and Piggy, find a conch and use it to gather the other children in an attempt to form order. The elect Ralph as the leader and they work together as a civilization, at least at first. Unfortunately, some of the elected hunters would rather have fun, hunt, and play savage. This leads to a feud between the boys. Eventually, Jack, the leader of the hunters convinces the majority of the boys that fun...

Words: 1081 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Lord of the Flies

...Lord of the Flies William Golding Analysis of Major Characters Themes, Motifs & Symbols Ralph Ralph is the athletic, charismatic protagonist of Lord of the Flies. Elected the leader of the boys at the beginning of the novel, Ralph is the primary representative of order, civilization, and productive leadership in the novel. While most of the other boys initially are concerned with playing, having fun, and avoiding work, Ralph sets about building huts and thinking of ways to maximize their chances of being rescued. For this reason, Ralph’s power and influence over the other boys are secure at the beginning of the novel. However, as the group gradually succumbs to savage instincts over the course of the novel, Ralph’s position declines precipitously while Jack’s rises. Eventually, most of the boys except Piggy leave Ralph’s group for Jack’s, and Ralph is left alone to be hunted by Jack’s tribe. Ralph’s commitment to civilization and morality is strong, and his main wish is to be rescued and returned to the society of adults. In a sense, this strength gives Ralph a moral victory at the end of the novel, when he casts the Lord of the Flies to the ground and takes up the stake it is impaled on to defend himself against Jack’s hunters. In the earlier parts of the novel, Ralph is unable to understand why the other boys would give in to base instincts of bloodlust and barbarism. The sight of the hunters chanting and dancing is baffling and distasteful to him. As the novel progresses...

Words: 938 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

What Does The Conch's Head Represent In Lord Of The Flies

...In the novel, Lord of the Flies, there is an abundance of objects that are used to symbolize power as well as authority and savagery. The conch shell and the sow’s head portray these things indefinitely. In many ways the powers of the objects are different. Lord of the Flies is an allegory for power considering the amount of symbolism within the novel. The boys in this novel routinely used symbols to control the group of boys on the island. In all, there is a plethora of symbols used in this novel to display things like power, authority, and savagery. Symbols in this novel are used to control a group as well as serving as an allegory to the reader. Two of the main symbols are conch shell and the sow’s head. The conch represents power and authority. The sow’s head represents savagery and illustrates the novel Lord of the Flies, because the rotting head is swarming with flies as it sits upon a wooden stake. While both the conch and sow’s head had completely opposite meanings, both of them wield a certain type of power over the boys. The conch’s power over the boys is making them think that they have control over everyone once they have the conch in their possession. However, the sow’s head assists in the assembly of a new opposing tribe. This tribe was cruel to the other boys who solely wanted unity and peace...

Words: 568 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Simon Lord Of The Flies Quote Analysis

...The theme of Lord of the flies is savagery versus civilization. Throughout the story, the boy’s face many challenges. While stranded, the boys have to learn how to survive. During this, some boys rose to the occasion while others became ruthless. When learning how to hunt, some of the boys get so into it, it is all they can think about. The need to kill the pig is their main desire. While the other boys try to find a way off the island. Ralph, Simon, and Piggy want to escape the madness and return to civilization. In William Golding’s book Lord of the flies, many symbols are used to represent the theme. The first symbol in the novel is Ralph. Ralph represents order. When the boys are stranded, Ralph decides that the boys need a leader. He thinks they need to establish rules so they can maintain order. When on the island, all the boys shout and argue. As a result, Ralph finds a conch shell; he blows into it to get the boys’ attention. He then makes a rule...

Words: 545 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Beastie In William Golding's Lord Of The Flies

...“‘They hate you, Ralph. They’re going to do you tomorrow.’ ‘They’re going to hunt you tomorrow,’” (Golding 188). This may sound like an intense children’s game, or even a warning for an animal that will be hunted the next day. However, it wasn’t. These words were aimed at Ralph, a human boy and the main character in Lord of the Flies. In William Golding’s novel Lord of the Flies, there is a group of young boys trapped on a deserted island. The book is about the boys’ fight for survival and follows their fear and slow decivilization. Part way through being on the island, the boys think they discover a “beastie,” but are never able to find the physical “beastie.” Whether the “beastie” was a snake, lion, bear, or anything else, the main character,...

Words: 759 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Symbolism In Lord Of The Flies

...Symbolism in the Lord of the Flies In everyday life, different objects, places, and people symbolize various meanings. In the major motion picture and best selling novel, The Hunger Games, written by Suzanne Collins, the main character, Katniss Everdeen wears a mockingjay pin as a representation of bravery and courage. The mockingjay is an example of a symbol, which according to Random House Webster’s college dictionary is “something used for or regarded as something else.” William Golding’s novel, Lord of the Flies, tells a story about a group of stranded boys on an island and the use of many symbolic items that affect their stay and character. Golding’s use and representation of the conch shell, Piggy’s glasses, and the Beast/Lord of Flies...

Words: 1045 - Pages: 5