HOW DOES GOLDING PRESENT JACK AS AN INTIMIDATING CHARACTER IN CHAPTER 1 OF LORD OF

THE FLIES?

In the novel Lord of The Flies, the antagonist, Jack Merridew, was introduced in chapter 1, the sound
of the shells as an intimidating character. This is shown when Jack and his choir are first mentioned
as ‘something dark fumbling along’ and then was repeatedly called ‘the creature’. The adjective,
noun and verb, ‘dark’, ‘creature’ and ‘fumbling’ suggest Jack and his choir were something quite
ominous and dangerous. After that, Jack asked, ‘where’s the man with the trumpet?’ this being the
first thing he said shows he’s a very straight to the point and doesn’t care for the other boys on the
island. Furthermore, Jack ‘shouted an order’ at the choir where they then immediately stopped. The
noun ‘order’ suggests that Jack has control over the choir who should be seen to him as equals. This
presents him as a strong-minded character with a lot of power. The verb ‘shouted’ also implies he is
impatient and not very fond of the choir. When Jack first meets Ralph, he ‘screw up his face’. This
action shows that he is disgusted and angry with Ralph. Jack is then constantly being giving the
connotation of a crow or evil bird circling his prey. This shown when, ‘his black cloak swirled’ and the
choir ‘perched like black birds’ showing that they too are wicked creatures who are watching their
master in action. Finally, Golding mentioned piggy who was ‘secure on the other side of Ralph’ and
then ‘timidly’ spoke. The fact that piggy hid behind Ralph and spoke ‘timidly’ suggests that Piggy sees
Jack a scary intimidating character.