The Harmony Between the Two at the Beginning:

Ralph and Jack, offer a striking contrast to each other.

Indeed, each is the opposite of the other. Each is almost the

antipodes of the other. In the overall view, Ralph represents the

principle of goodness, while Jack represents the principle of

evil. In the beginning, no doubt, Jack too behaves in a manner

which cannot be described as obnoxious or even objectionable.

When Ralph suggests (in the very opening chapter) that the

boys should have a chief, Jack says that he (Jack) should be

automatically accepted as the chief on the ground that he is

"chapter chorister and head boy", and that he can sing C sharp.

But when the majority of the boys vote for Ralph, Jack accepts

Ralph as the chief gracefully, while Ralph, on his part, allows

Jack to continue to be the tender of his choir-boys who are now

designated by Jack as the hunters. At this point the author

writes: "Jack and Ralph smiled at each other with shy liking."

They then set out on an expedition to find out if they are really

on an island, taking Simon with them. There is a perfect

harmony of mood among all the three boys as they carry out

their task of exploring the island. Ralph and Jack seem to get

on very well with each other during this exploration, and both

feel elated, shouting "wacco" and "wizard".

A Difference Between the Temperaments of the Two

However, a marked difference between the aptitudes of the

two boys and between their temperaments is perceptible even

at this early stage in the story. Jack thinks himself to be

superior to Ralph by virtue of the position that he has been

holding in his school and by virtue of his present position as the

head of the choir the members of which are still duly obedient
to him. Then Jack shows a strong inclination to kill a piglet

which has got entangled among the creepers. He takes out his

knife to kill the piglet but refrains from actually killing it. At

this point he does not kill the piglet because of his sense of "the

enormity" of the act of killing. However, he declares that he

would show no mercy to a pig when he gets another oppor-

tunity to kill it. He then slams his knife into a tree-trunk to give

point to his remark. Jack repeats this action a little later at the

assembly of the boys when he says that there are pigs on the

island and that these pigs have to be hunted and killed for their

meat. Once again he slams his knife into a tree-trunk, looking

round challengingly. Ralph does not show the least interest in

Jack's declarations about the need to hunt down pigs. At this

assembly Ralph has a good deal to say but he makes no

reference at all to the need for the hunting of pigs. He tells the

assembly that in the course of their exploration of the island

they have seen no houses, no smoke, no foot-prints, no boats,

and no people. Ralph also points out to the assembly the need

of maintaining some kind of discipline on the island, and so he

makes the suggestion that whoever wants to speak at an

assembly can do so only if be test asks for the conch and then

holds the conch in his hands. Ralph further says that it is a

good island, that it is their island, and that they can have fun on

this island until the grown-ups come to rescue them, while Jack

says once again that there are pigs on the island and that there

is food on the island, meaning that, the meat of the pigs is the

food that they can hope to eat.

Much in Common Between the Two at the Early Stages

Another difference emerges between Ralph and Jack when,

in response to a little boy's account of his experience of having

seen a beastie or the snake-thing, Ralph insists that there is no

beastie on the island, while Jack says that they would make

sure whether or not there is a beastie when they go hunting.

Ralph feels annoyed when Jack admits the possibility of the

existence of a beastie. However, there is still much that is

common between Ralph and Jack. After the fire has been

lighted on

announcement which shows that there is no divergence of

opinion between him and Ralph. This is what Jack says on this

the mountain-top, Jack makes an important

occasion:

I agree with Ralph. We've got to have rules and

obey them. After all, we're not savages. We're

English, and the English are best at everything. So

we've got to do the right things.

Jack at this time even undertakes to keep the fire on the

mountain-top burning all the time; and he entrusts some of his

hunters with the task of keeping the fire alive.

Subsequent Differences: Conflicting Priorities

Very soon after expressing his concurrence with Ralph, we

find Jack devoting himself mainly to his self-chosen task of

hunting pigs. At the beginning of Chapter III, Jack is described

as exploring; the forest all alone in search of pig-tracks. The

spirit of adventure is strong, in Jack. Ralph's announcement

that the chief aim of the boys should be to attract the attention

of the sailors of a passing ship so that the boys can be rescued

has not made much impression upon Jack who now becomes

obsessed with his desire to hunt down pigs. Ralph had also
suggested that, next to maintaining the fire on the mountain-

top, the chief priority of the boys should be to build huts or

shelters on the beach. But Jack's main priority is the hunting of

pigs. This difference of outlook brings about the first quarrel

between the two boys. When Ralph reminds Jack about the

need of building shelters, Jack tries to convey to him his

compulsion to track down pigs in, order to kill them. Ralph

becomes indignant at Jack's adverse reaction. Jack says that

the boys must have meat to eat, while Ralph says that the boys

are in need of shelters; and the author says: "Now the

antagonism (between Ralph and Jack) was audible. A little later

kalph talks, about the need, to maintain the smoke on the

uountain-top, while Jack again talks about the need to hunt

pigs. This time the author thus indicates the conflict: "They

(Ralph and Jack) faced each other on the bright beach

astonished at the rub of feeling." This that is the main point of

contrast between Ralph and Jack early is the story. Ralph's

priorities are maintaining the fire and the smoke, and bulu

building huts or shelters; while Jack's priority is the, hunting of

pigs.

Two Different Worlds: Egotism versus Altruism

This contrast is further emphasized when Jack succeeds in

killing a pig for the first time. While Jack was away hunting in

the forest, Ralph had seen a ship in the distance on the sea

But, as Jack had taken all his hunters with him, nobody had fed

the fire on the mountain-top, with the result that the fire had

gone out and there had been no trace of any smoke. Jack is

elated by his success in having killed a pig and he describes his

achievement to Ralph, saying that Ralph should have been

present at the spot in order to see the blood coming out of the

pig's body. Ralph scolds Jack for having allowed the fire on the

mountain-top to go out. A golden opportunity of being rescued

has been lost, according to Ralph. If the fire had been burning

and the smoke rising, the sailors on the passing ship would

have noticed the smoke and would have come to the island to

rescue the boys. Jack is not much moved by Ralph's argument,

whereupon Ralph describes Jack's negligence about the fire as

a dirty trick. The situation is, however, saved by Jack's

apologizing to Ralph for the negligence of his hunters in having

allowed the fire to go out. But, although Jack has apologized,

he has already vented his wrath upon Piggy whose spectacles

have got broken because of the violence which Jack has used

against Piggy. Here again the author, commenting upon the

contrasted attitudes of Ralph and Jack, says that Jack was

thinking at this time of "the brilliant world of hunting, tactics,

fierce exhilaration, skill"; while Ralph was thinking of "the

world of longing and baffled common sense." It is clear thất

Jack is egotistical and self-centred while Ralph tends to

altruism and wants to help the others.

The Contrasted Attitudes of the Two Boys Towards Piggy

Another point of contrast between Ralph and Jack is ie

different opinions which they hold about Piggy. In the

beginning Ralph is no doubt rather scornful towards Piggy and

mocks at Piggy's nickname, but gradually Ralph becomes mole

and more considerate towards Piggy because he begins to

recognize the solid merits of this bespectacled and asthmatic

hov. Jack dislikes Piggy from the very outset, and his dislike,

instead of changing into a liking, goes on deepening till it

becomes a fierce hatred. In the very beginning, Jack addresses

"Fatty" and asks him to "shut up". He also mocks at

Piggy as

Piggy, saying that Fatty is always feeling scared. Then one day

Tack gives several glows to Piggy, breaking one of the glasses

of Piggy's spectacles. Thereafter, on one occasion, Jack says to

Diggy: "You shut up, you fat slug." Jack becomes more and

more intolerant towards piggy while Ralph feels more and more

drawn towards Piggy. Ralph has now begun inwardly to

recognize Piggy's capacity to think and the sound sense in

Piggy's suggestions, while Jack becomes fiercely antagonistic

to Piggy, perhaps because Jack is unconsciously jealous of

Piggy's intelligence. Ultimately Jack is responsible for the

murder of Piggy though it is Roger who actually perpetrates the

murder; while Ralph (on the last page of the novel) weeps for

his "true, wise friend called Piggy".

The Contrast Between Their Attitudes Towards the Conch

Ralph, having once declared that anybody wanting to speak

at an assembly of the boys should hold the conch in his hands,

insists on this rule being observed on all occasions. Jack, on the

other hand, treats the conch as something unimportant from the

very outset. To Ralph, the conch is a symbol of authority and

discipline, but Jack soon becomes openly scornful of the conch.

One reason why Jack hates Piggy is that Piggy is always

harping upon the importance of the conch. On one occasion,

Jack becomes angry with Piggy and says:

Conch! Conch! We don't need the conch any more.

We know who ought to say things. It's time some

people knew they've got to keep quiet and leave

deciding things to the rest of us.

But Ralph immediately objects to Jack's disregard of the conch.

When Piggy is killed, the conch which he was holding in his

nands is shattered into a thousand fragments. By now Jack has

become the chief in his own right, and the conch had already

ceased to have any importance for him.

Kalph For Civilization; Jack For Barbarism

Ralph repeatedly insists on the need to maintain a fire

Decause his aim is that the boys should be rescued from this

island. Jack hardly ever refers to the desirability or possibility of

rescue. Jack becomes obsessed with the hunting of pigs. He

evolves a strategy for killing them. This strategy consists in

painting his face with red clay, with white clay, and with

charcoal. He asks his hunters also to paint their faces in the

same way. Now this painting of faces is a step towards the

barbarism of primitive times. On one occasion Jack, after

having killed a pig, offers the slain pig's head to the beast as a

gift. This is a ritual suiting the primitive people of ancient

times. In the course of a frenzied mock-hunt held by Jack and

his boys, Simon gets killed, but Jack experiences no remorse.

On the contrary, Jack gives out that the beast has been killed.

while Ralph, speaking to Piggy, describes Simon's death as a

murder. Jack now goes on becoming more and more savage

and brutal. Soon afterwards Piggy is killed by Roger's releasing

a rock from above. Jack does not object at all to what Roger has

done, because Roger must have known that Jack would

approve of Roger's action in killing Piggy. Ralph's own life is

now in danger because Jack has become so bloodthirsty that he

and his savages pursue Ralph who flees to save his life. Ralph
has felt shocked by the manner in which Piggy has been killed,

and he knows that Jack would not spare his life also in case

Jack can lay his hands upon him (Ralph). Thus, while Ralph

remains true to the values of civilization, Jack has become a

complete barbarian and a primitive savage. This contrast is a

key to our understanding of Golding's message to us.

The Contrasted Attitudes Towards the Littluns and the

Twins

Ralph's attitude towards the Littluns is that of an elder

brother. His attitude towards them is protective. He tries to

dispel their fears of a beastie or the snake-thing. In the

beginning Jack also tries to drive out fear from the minds of the

Littluns, but in course of time Jack becomes more and more

hardened and feels no

When, for instance, it is decided that all the Biquns should go

in search of the beast the presence of which has been reported

by the twins, Ralph feels solicitous about the Littluns and asks

responsibility towards the Littluns.

who would look after them if all the Biguns go away. Jack's

reply to Ralph's question is: "Sucks to the Littluns!" Ralph says

that someone has got to look after the Littluns, but Jack says

that previously it had never been thought necessary to depute

anybody to look after them. Ralph then suggests that Piggy

should stay behind in order to look after the Littluns, but Jack

says that Ralph is leaving Piggy behind only in order to keep

Piggy out of danger. Similarly, Ralph's attitude towards the

twins shows his interest in them and their welfare; and that

explains also the twins' loyalty to Ralph. Jack, on the contrary,

adopts an authoritarian attitude towards them and later, when

the twins accompany Ralph and Piggy to meet Jack and

demand the return of Piggy's spectacles, Jack has the twins

seized, tied up, and subsequently, tortured by Roger. The twins

are released from captivity only when they agree to join Jack's

tribe.

Jack, a Born Hunter; Ralph Not Much Interested in

Hunting

Jack is a born hunter. He takes to hunting as a duck takes

to water. After he has surveyed the island in the company of

Ralph and Simon, he finds that the island affords excellent

opportunities for the hunting of pigs. Hunting now becomes his

chief preoccupation. He wanders about in the forest all alone in

order to discover the pig-tracks. He then evolves a strategy to

hunt down the animals. He masks his face with red and white

paint and with charcoal so as not to be recognized by the pigs

as an enemy. After he has hunted down his first pig, he takes

great pleasure in having the pig-meat roasted and offering it to

everybody, and even to Ralph who had never been very

enthusiastic about hunting. Jack then gives to the gathering of

the boys all the details of his hunting expedition which had led

to the killing of the pig and boasts that it is because of him that

they have all been able to eat meat on the island. It is not only

for the sake of meat that Jack wants to hunt down pigs; he is

interested in hunting for its own sake, in hunting is an

adventurous activity and as a sport. Ralph, on the contrary, is

not much interested in hunting. He is not, indeed, opposed to

hunting, but he regards hunting as a subsidiary activity which

should not be allowed to supersede the main tasks which are to

keep the fire burning and to build huts. Ralph eats pig-meat
with great relish; in fact, he dribbles at the thought of getting

meat to eat; but, in spite of that, hunting does not occupy his

thoughts much.

Ralph, Frank and Open-Hearted; Jack, a Strategist

Ralph is a frank and open-hearted boy. He conceals

nothing from others. There is nothing secretive about him or hie

plans. He always lays bare his mind and reveals, without any

reservations, how his mind is working. It is true that Ralph

prevaricates with regard to the circumstances in which Simon

was killed; but not for long. He soon comes out with his sense

of quilt insofar as he had been a silent witness to the killing of

Simon by Jack's savages. He then tells Piggy frankly that he

thinks the death of Simon to be a "murder", though Piggy at

this stage disagrees, referring to Simon's death as an

"accident". It is true also that on one occasion, when Ralph

thinks that the beast is about to invade his hut, he prays that

the beast should spare him and should devour one of the

Littluns; but that only shows that Ralph is morally not perfect.

Ralph does offer a contrast to Jack in this respect because Jack

is a strategist who does not shrink from using cunning methods

to achieve his objectives. When Jack instigates the boys against

Ralph and calls upon them to disown. Ralph as the chief, Jack

distorts and twists the facts. On this occasion Jack tells the boys

that Ralph has criticized the hunters and has called them

cowards. Actually, Ralph has said no such thing against the

hunters, but Jack's purpose on this occasion is to prejudice the

hunters against Ralph. Jack then also says that Ralph is a

coward himself because, while Jack and Roger had climbed up

to the mountain-top in order to look for the beast, Ralph had

stayed behind. This too is a distortion of facts because Ralph too

had climbed up to the mountain-top. Jack then goes on to polint

out some of Ralph's shortcomings. Ralph is not a hunter, says

Jack, Ralph has never got them any meat; Ralph was never a

head boy; Ralph just gives orders and expects people to obey

mm for nothing. Finding that all his arguments have failed to

evoke much response from the boys, Jack now adopts another

trick. He begins to shed tears and tells the boys, that he would

no longer stay with them and that he cannot continue to be a

follower of Ralph. He then says that he is going away all by

himself and that, if anyone wants to hunt pigs, he can follow

him (Jack). This strategy succeeds, and most of the Biguns

follow Jack.

Ralph's Introspective Nature; Jack, a Believer in Action

Another point of contrast between these two boys is that

while Ralph is introspective and contemplative by nature, Jack

has no inner life. Ralph often gets into a reminiscent mood and

begins to brood upon his past life. He thinks of the days of his

childhood when he used to live in a cottage on the edge of the

moors in England. He often indulges in fancies of different

kinds while falling-asleep. Sometimes he merely gets lost in

thinking of his present circumstances, such as how long his

hair has grown and how dirty his shirt has become. Often Ralph

also experiences an obstruction in his thinking. It sometimes

seems to him that a cloud has descended upon his mind and

obscured his vision. Jack has no such moods and tendencies.

He has chosen a certain course of action, namely hunting, and

he pursues this activity without any scruples or hesitation. He

then aims at becoming the chief, and he directs all his efforts to
the attainment of that aim. Having achieved his desire, Jack

begins to lead the life of a primitive tribal chief, hunting down

pigs and also hunting down those whom he regards as his

opponents. It is true that Ralph too is capable of action. Ralph-

too is bold and daring as for instance, when he is able to attack

and wound a boar which had rushed towards him, as when he

fights the raiders in his hut, as when he goes and confronts

Jack, calling him a beast, a swine, and a bloody, bloody thief,

and as when he makes desperate efforts to save his life from the

savages who are chasing him relentlessly. But, while Ralph

thinks as well as acts, thinking in the sense of meditation or

contemplation or reflection is foreign to Jack's nature.

Evil Versus Good

In symbolic terms, Jack represents the, principle of evil,

while Ralph represents the principle of good. The main theme

of this novel is the conflict between good and evil, and the

partial triumph of evil, even though Golding has himself said

that the novel does not depict the triumph of evil over good but

the rescue of good from the clutches of evil. Released from the

restraints of school discipline and the obligations of a civilized

life, Jack rapidly develops into a savage and a barbarian. The

evil instinct in him finds ample scope on the island to grow and

flourish. Ralph, on the contrary, clings to the values of

civilization and, to the kind of discipline which he had imbibed

at school. Evidently, goodness preponderates in Ralph's mental

make-up, while evil preponderates in Jack's nature. Ralph too

does deteriorate to some extent under the conditions of life on

the island but the goodness in him remains largely intact. Jack

goes on morally deteriorating till the goodness in him becomes

almost extinct. Evil is certainly triumphant on the island

because a noble boy like Simon is killed, and a good hearted

and wise boy like Piggy is deliberately murdered ; and there is

no doubt that Ralph too would have been tortured to death if

the naval officer had not arrived in time. Evil is inherent in

human-nature: such is the message of Golding.