"Lord of the Flies": Compare any two characters and their relation to the theme of power in the novel

Essay by TooTHigh School, 10th gradeB, June 2006

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The fight for power among leaders can be a complex course of action. Sometimes a book can help us understand the situation better by presenting an allegorical story. Consequently, The book, "Lord of the Flies" illustrates the struggle for power between a civilized person and a savage as Ralph the protagonist of the story leads the groups of young boys with a democratic system, however Jack who is the antagonist of the story, eventually takes over Ralph's leadership by prioritizing savage behavior. The novel developed this event by slowly foreshadowing Ralph and Jack's conflicts towards an ominous future. Even though, Ralph and Jack are both natural leaders and important characters of the story their objectives, characteristics, and priorities are very different because they both fought for power.

Ralph and Jack have different objectives because Ralph plays the role of leader while Jack is the anarchy. To begin with, Ralph who is the idealistic chief of society has the objective of establishing law and order on the island.

In the second assembly he announced to the boys," whoever is holding the conch gets to talk." Needless to say he wanted to organize the party of boys with perspectives as the civilized world so that things can get done. Next, Ralph builds huts on the beach as shelters for the boys. Mainly because Ralph is adapting the civilized culture to live in houses so that there will be order on the island. Clearly, Ralph intends to sustain a stable democratic society on the island. However, Jack on the other hand contradicts Ralph's ideas. First of all, Jack disrespected Ralph's leadership by talking while he was not holding the conch. As a result Ralph resents Jack. Second of all, Jack goes hunting instead of helping Ralph to build the huts. Ralph thinks that...