In the midst of World War 2, a group of English schoolboys find themselves stranded on a

deserted island after their evacuation plane is shot down. With no adult survivors, the boys try to
maintain civility by forming a government and electing a leader while they wait for rescue.
Conflict immediately arises as Ralph, our protagonist is pitted against another boy named Jack in
a fight for power.

In Lord of the Flies, Golding presents the relationship between Ralph and Jack as a struggle over
the souls of the other boys. Whereas Ralph represents the rational element of the soul, Jack
represents the soul's darker, violent side. In Lord of the Flies, William Golding presents the
relationship between Ralph and Jack as strained, uneasy, and complex before it breaks down into
absolute hostility. Ralph and Jack (and the boys who align themselves with each) represent
different values and different aspects of human nature. Ralph represents respect for the law, duty,
reason, and the protection of the weak, whereas Jack represents violence, cruelty, mob rule,
government through fear, and tyranny.

Comparing and contrasting Jack and Ralph gives the reader an insight and better understanding
of how the book develops. They have many similarities and differences between them. These
main characters help explain things in the book like the theme, characteristics, actions, and
rivalries. Some major keys of the compare and contrast are qualities in leadership, lessons they
teach, and their relationships. When it comes to leadership Jack and Ralph have very few
similarities, and many differences. Jack seeks to take control and be the leader in every situation.
When Ralph was elected leader, Jack interjected and elected himself as leader of his choir. He is
very forceful when it comes to doing things his way.

Ralph and Jack come to symbolize the good and evil in life. Their leadership views are also very
different, as Ralph signifies democracy, while Jack signifies dictatorship. Mubasher Rafique
Chapter 1: The relationship between Ralph and Jack was about honesty early in the book when
Jack first enters the story he asks calmly, "Where's the man with the trumpet?" and finds Ralph
and respects him because he had blown the conch, therefore creating the new leadership structure
on the island. From the moment Golding introduces Jack into the group he describes him as
somebody who loves to be in control and to have power. The boys on the island attempt to bring
order to the island and the new situation they are in by electing a chief. Ralph is elected chief
instead of Jack and Piggy. Jack, who was the most likely leader, had a "blush of mortification"
when Ralph was elected chief. Ralph sensed that he needed to calm down Jack's need for power
and did this by telling Jack, "The choir belongs to you." Ralph seems to trust Jack and to show
how friendly their relationship is he gives power over the choir to Jack. There is a joint respect
between the two of them and Jack says that the choir will keep the signal fire burning and will
also do the hunting for the group.

Choir were in charge of was out, he runs up to the fire and finds Jack celebrating the first killing
of a pig. This is the final straw for Ralph who is now tired of Jack's disobeying orders in order to
fulfil his own selfish needs to kill. The ship passed by and they were once again stuck on the
island until the next opportunity arises. Because of Jack they didn't have a hope this time. Jack
had taken Sam and Eric from the fireside so that his hunting party could form a full circle in
which to trap and kill a pig for meat. This indicates that Jack thinks that savagery and hunting is
more important than civilisation, huts and rescue. The tension between Jack and Ralph has now
reached its climax and ends with them squaring up to fight. Ralph makes the group see that Jack
was wrong to let the ship pass and so Jack attempts to win back favour by bullying Piggy who
had now made his way up the mountain. Once Jack "stuck his fist into Piggy's stomach"
whatever link was left in the relationship between Ralph and Jack, was "snapped". I think that in
this chapter Ralph's leadership has come back stronger and he is more confident as he calls for
the meeting.

Jack calls him a coward, and Ralph finally agrees to go on the hunt simply to regain his position
as leader in the eyes of the group. Simon volunteers to return to the beach to tell Piggy and the
littluns that they will not return until late that night. Ralph, Roger, and Jack start to climb the
mountain; then Ralph and Roger wait at the halfway point while Jack climbs alone to the top. He
returns, breathlessly claiming to have seen the monster. Ralph and Roger climb up to have a look
and see a terrifying image: a large, shadowy form, with the shape of a giant ape, making a
strange flapping sound in the wind. Horrified, the boys hurry down the mountain to warn the
group. In this chapter I think that Jack is in charge because he decides to hunt the boar and climb
the mountain. Ralph agrees just because he wants to prove to Jack that he is not scared. Quote
"Ralph heard the mockery and hated Jack." The relationship between Ralph and Jack is
weakened because of Jack and his savageness, his selfishness and his greed for power, against
Ralph's intelligence, hard work and skill in trying to build a civilized and orderly environment
for the boys to live in.

The novel Lord of the Flies demonstrates how conflict between members of society can lead to
the loss of rules and the breakdown of civilization. He uses the act of hunting to illustrate this
meaningful change that significantly affects Jack, one of the main character’s of the text.
Golding uses themes and symbolism to assist readers in understanding how easily we can fall
into savagery and become a monster or, more aptly in Jack’s case, a beast. The Leadership of
Jack and Ralph in Lord of the Flies Throughout the novel Lord of the Flies, Ralph tries his best
to create a society based on survival. As time progresses, it is clear that Jack's feelings are
towards living life and having fun. Jack's society eventually leads to corruption, killing innocent
people, while Ralph's prevails as the boys are rescued.

Ralph teaches us a lesson that Jack cannot. Keeping a democracy in civilization is crucial for
survival. He also teaches that children need guidance and discipline. Ralph makes it clear that
without the establishment of rules many problems would be caused, as shown in the novel when
all the boys act out. A similarity between Jack and Ralph is that their rivalry caused society and
civilization to be torn, without that the community will not function properly. Another point to
compare and contrast between Jack and Ralph is their relationships between each other, and the
other boys as well. From the get go Jack is by far more confident in himself and his ability to talk
to others. He knows what he wants and he is not afraid to get it, even if that means being rude to
others along the way. Unlike Ralph who immediately comes off as timid and uninterested when
he first starts talking to Piggy and a few other boys. A similarity between Jack and Ralph is that
they create a small liking to each other in the beginning, caused by agreement in sharing
different roles in leadership, shown in this quote, “Jack and Ralph smiled at each other with shy
liking.
Morality & Appearance

William Golding uses the theme that humans are naturally bad at heart, in the book Lord of the Flies to
highlight that without the order and respect we choose to live our daily lives with our human nature will
ultimately take us into chaos and savagery. Morals are what we choose live by, this is what keeps us in
line. Morals do not appear overnight. Overtime they are ingrained throughout our childhood. Giving us a
sense of right and wrong. Humans are not born with the idea of looking out for the welfare of others, we
naturally want to satisfy ourselves. Respect and rules are important, in running an orderly society. Many
leaders will demand respect, earning respect far succeeds that of demanding, in ruling a society.

Morals give us a sense. Leaders who demand respect are not in the wrong, but it is not as healthy, as
earning the respect of the people. Once Ralph was elected by the boys, they “broke into applause. Even
the choir applauded; [...] Ralph looked at [Jack], eager to offer something.” (Pg. 23) Ralph let the boys
choose their leader, and he is already looking out for others as he immediately tends to Jack. This shows
how Ralph is earning his respect, which in return sets a better platform for a tribe to be built on. Golding
is choosing to use Ralph as a symbol of order, respect, and safety. This is the forming of order in order
versus chaos. Jack demands respect and enforces his power as he yells “Grab them!” [...] “I said ‘grab
them’!” [...] “Tie them up!” [...] “Go on. Tie Them.” (Pg. 178-179) Jack has chosen to enforce and
demand which is the opposite of what Ralph has chosen. Golding uses Jack to represent the complete
opposite of Ralph. Jack is shown as power hungry and rash, which is not good long term for the group.
Golding’s symbolism is showing that if we let our wants take over, that our unruly corrupt nature will
ultimately result in loss of respect and order, causing us to fall into chaos and.

Ralph and Piggy held onto order, with the death of Piggy “Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the
darkness of man’s heart and [...] the true, wise friend called Piggy.” (Pg. 202) Chaos and savagery show
the true darkness of man’s heart, bringing out the ugliest within us. This is a powerful ending to a
meaningful book that wraps multiple themes into one statement. Including darkness of man’s heart and
that order is chosen. We weren’t born in tuxedo’s, our appearance show’s how we have chosen to live
our lives. Ralph meets the sailor wearing a “white topped cap [...] [with] gold foliage. [...] [And] a
uniform.” (Pg. 200) Dress to impress, what you wear will have an effect on what others think of you.
Order is associated with cleanly and sharp. This sailor saves the day for Ralph, the only boy who was still
clinging to his beliefs of order and respect.

They say people change — but usually for the better. But this is not the case for our young English
schoolboys. One plane crash that was meant for evacuation changes the course of their lives for these
groups of boys. These boys get stranded on an island far away from any connection to the outside
world. The only people the boys can rely on are each other and themselves due to their being no adults
on the island. With no adult supervision and rules these innocent boys, from William Golding’s novel the
Lord of the Flies, quickly turn from being civilized to reckless savages. This change is most evident in
Jack, the head choirboy. Jack is a head choirboy that degenerates to a ruthless savage. This progress of
becoming a savage is shown slowly by his change in attire, feelings about rules, and his feelings for killing
the pig.

The first glimpse we get of Jack is when Ralph, another boy on the island, finds a conch and uses it to call
all the boys together. Hearing the conch, a group dressed in dark clothing walks down toward the beach.
This group, the choir, is described as “something dark […] fumbling along” (19). By using the word “dark”
to describe this group it automatically shows that these groups of boys are not good but rather the dark
and evil boys on the island. The choir was “marching approximately in step in two parallel lines” (19),
establishing a war-like group. This shows that the leader of the group, Jack, is in complete control of the
group. Jack is described as “the boy who controlled them…his cap badge was golden” (19). By having a
different color cap badge then the rest of the group, it distinguishes the status that Jack has and the
status the rest of the boys have in the choir. Jack radiates complete aut...

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... their primitive ways.

Jack changes throughout the course of the story through his attire, feelings about rules and his feelings
about hunting. William Golding uses Jack to symbolize savagery and violence. Also Jack is a
representation of the dangers of being power hungry. Golding suggests that within each human there is
a struggle between right (good) and wrong (evil) and it depends on the individual to decide which course
they want to embrace. As much as Jack tries to follow the moral code that society taught him he
eventually embraces his inner evil. This inner evil is unleashed mainly because of his ignorance and
desires. Golding also suggests that if a person was put into a civilization where law and order was not
established, then the person would go back to their primitive ways. Civilization keeps everything in order
and prevents people from going crazy.