First Impressions In William Golding's Lord Of The Flies

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First impressions leave a lasting impact on one’s view of a person which alters the way they act around/treat specific people. First impressions are extremely powerful since they can be the deciding factor in what type of relationship you have with a certain person. The statement that first impressions greatly impact people’s views of one another is evident in the first chapter of Lord of the Flies when each main character is introduced to each other for the first time. For example, the first encounter between Ralph and Piggy demonstrates the admiration that Piggy developed for Ralph due to Ralph coming off as a sincere person who has leadership qualities. Piggy quickly takes a liking to Ralph due to his kindness which is demonstrated in the quote “The fat boy hung steadily at his shoulder”(Pg. 9). Piggy’s first impression of Ralph will stick with him throughout the course of the book and alter the way that they act around others. Another example of how first impressions impact the way that people view one another is presented when the character of Merridew is introduced to the boys. Merridew comes off as a snotty and stuck up boy who has dominance over the boys of the choir. The quotes “The boy came close and peered down at Ralph, screwing up his face as he did so” and “He turned quickly, his black cloak circling” (Pg. 20) demonstrate Merridew’s arrogant nature. This first impression will later go on to affect a major decision between the boys regarding leadership as well as the outcome of other situations. …show more content…

Therefore, Lord of the Flies supports the concept that first impressions alter the way that people treat/act around one another since the main characters are often influenced by their first impressions of each

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