The Effect of Minor Characters on Main Developing Themes

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Would anyone remember Nelson Mandela had had no one to lead into a better future? Would anyone remember Charles Dickens if no one read his books; who Shakespeare is if no one attended his plays? Without those whose names are undocumented no one, including Mandela, Dickens and Shakespeare would ever have metamorphosed into what they are commemorated for. The minor characters of William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, similar to the undocumented names that brought others their recognition, manufacture major characters into who they are, bringing about changes in mood, atmosphere and developing main themes by inciting fear and increasing panic, following the commands set by either leader and the power that leaders have over others creates conflict between the leaders, and while Jack is accepting his new-found nature hunting pigs and tormenting Piggy, Roger is having his own outbursts of similar nature testing his boundaries.
The fear being incited by minor characters like the boy with the mulberry birthmark that speaks of “the beastie, A snake like thing. Ever so big” (34) that could hurt them and poses threats to their survival, strikes fear in their hearts, though it has not been seen in detail. The fear felt by each individual is increasing by the fear surrounding them. The little ’uns who nudge the other boy forwards are already afraid and their fear escalates from the threat. Fear is generated not just from the hypothetical beast but from the distraction where they can start off having a constructive, rational assembly on what has to change and can alter into a vote on whether or not ghosts exist. Ralph begins this assembly with a “Not for fun” (84) atmosphere and everything is fine until “people started getting frightened” (88) o...

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... progression happens slowly at first and then all at once climaxing with the attempted murder of Ralph and the frenzied, murderous chase.
Minor characters bring about change of leadership, mentality and fear exceeding the changes by result of major characters. Nothing would be the same or happen to the extent it does without minor characters as a collective altering the mentality and swaying actions and decisions of others. Without minor characters major events would not have happened. The main theme’s being developed are made stronger because of minor characters. Perhaps Jack and Ralph could have been friends and Simon and Piggy may not be killed if these four had been the only survivors. Great acts as well as terrible ones are brought about by small deeds of everyone.

Works Citied
Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. London: Faber and Faber Limited, 1954. Print.

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