Lord Of The Flies?Who Would Be The Better Leader

Essay by PaperNerd ContributorCollege, Undergraduate April 2001

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In the novel The Lord of the Flies, the author Robert Golding indirectly represents the world and human nature through a savage-like story about a group of British school boys stranded on an remote island. In this story there are two very important key characters which lead this story; Ralph and Jack.

Ralph tends to represent a civilized democracy, while Jack represents evil and fascism. Throughout the novel they become enemies, while at the same time each becomes a leader of half the boys. If you look past the good-guy, bad-guy themes of each boy, which do you believe would be the best suitable leader for long-term survival? Ralph was a good leader about trying to escape from the island, but assume there was no chance for a rescue. Who would be able to survive longer? Ralph's leadership or Jack's? Ralph is chosen as the original leader of the boys through an election held by the boys.

He is a caring, good person with natural leadership skills and very organized thoughts. He is very fair, equal and tends to all of the boys. His faults are that he is not very forceful and he is too trusting; this leaves him open to be easily taken advantage of. The first evidence of this is right after Ralph is elected he tells Jack "you can lead the choir boys"�(ch.1, p.13)and this is actually the start of Jack's whole rebellion. Ralph has good ideas but his ability to apply them is unreliable.

Jack on the otherhand is a commanding weak person. The only time Jack becomes brave and strong is when he hides behind his mask. He is a somewhat good leader but he has a spoiled, childish attitude. He is very harsh, strict, and he does not care to protect...