Corruption In Lord Of The Flies Quote Analysis

From Power to Corruption
“Maybe there is a beast… maybe it's only us” (Golding 80). Referencing the savagery of human nature, this statement is one with great accuracy. While reading Lord of the Flies, written by William Golding, many themes and problems presented themselves. The book really highlighted the use of power, and the types of people using it. People in society, whether they want power or not, can use their authority without the best intentions, corrupting themselves and others into inhumanity. For example, Jack uses his urge for authority, and eventually his control, to create an extremely savage tribe of boys, by pushing his own wants and laws onto them. This type of power can demoralize many people, including the ultimate

leader, followers, and opposers.
First , from the very beginning, there are clear scenarios that show the power struggle between Jack and Ralph, as well as the developing savagery among the tribe. This specific conflict from the beginning is the catalyst for the corrupt management and maliciousness. It is important to remember, however, that this rivalry was increasingly pushed forward by Jack. The urge for superiority displayed by this red-headed, freckled boy, first came out when he declared, “‘I ought to be chief, ‘ said Jack with simple arrogance ‘because I’m chapter chorister and head boy. I can sing C sharp’” (Golding 22). Even after this declaration by Jack, the other boys on the island voted on Ralph to be chief, which may have been the the event that first bugged Jack. The Lord of the Flies states, “Even the choir of applauded; and the freckles on Jack’s face disappeared under a blush of mortification. He started up, then changed his mind and sat down again while the air rang. Ralph looked at him, eager to offer something” (Golding 23). From this passage, a conclusion can be made that he is not used to accepting defeat, or handing authority over to another. Although this particular issue soon dissolved, the dissatisfaction in Jack’s island life soon caught up with him again,
Now, Although similar to his behavior before, this time Jack acts out with the urge for meat.

Numerous times in the book, this was acquainted with the characteristic of savagery. After failing to kill his first pig, and soon experiencing the rush of trying to catch another, the thirst for it began to become exposed. " Rescue? Yes, of course! All the same, I'd like to catch a pig first-" He snatched up his spear and dashed it into the ground. The opaque, mad look came into his eyes again” (Golding 53). Highlighting the mad look in his from this quote, really draws the attention towards the evolving butal nature inside of him. Almost paying no mind to this at the time, Ralph and the other boys let is roll of their shoulders. “‘You wouldn't care to help with the shelters, I suppose?’ ‘We want meat - ’ ‘And we don't get it.’ Now the antagonism was audible. ‘But I shall! Next time! I've got to get a barb on this spear! We wounded a pig and the spear fell out.’” (51) Each time he goes out, the frustration of his neglect rises from others especially Ralph, and his inhumanity

advances.
Finally, when Jack does slay a pig, the excitement he experiences is tremendous. With enthusiasm he announces, " You should have seen the blood!" (70). By examining these several quotes, the observation of Jack’s vicious nature is recognized at a larger level. At this point and onward, He will use his authority even more to expose inhumanity to the group of boys on the island.
Next, as Jack’s personality forms into an even deeper pit of malice and savagery, so does his desire for leadership.

“‘I got the conch’ Said Piggy indignantly. ’You let me speak!’ ‘ The conch doesn’t count on top of the mountain" Said Jack,’So you shut up’” (42). Here, is one of his first acts of antagonism towards his fellow human beings. The declaration he makes, claiming that Piggy has no right to speak out, displays how Jack tries to lower others in order to gain a greater authoritative position for himself. This is evidence for the statement that he uses the leadership he does have with little intentions of bettering the group as a whole.
Noticeability of this from the boys on the island increases, mostly with Piggy, Ralph, Simon, and Samneric. Ruthlessness depicted through Jack begins to stand out to them. Piggy quotes, “I been in bed so much I done some thinking. I know about people. I know about me. And him. He can't hurt you; but if you stand out of the way he'd hurt the next thing. And that's me”

(93)
As the book progresses, Jack’s dissatisfaction grows, and he takes measures to throw Ralph from his seat of leadership. During the meeting that this event takes place, Jack states, " He's not a hunter. He'd never have got us meat. He isn't perfect and we don't know anything about him. He just gives orders and expects people to obey for nothing” (Golding 126). This point in Lord of the Flies, is where his desire for control is at its climax. Actions portrayed by him prove that. In spite of this, nobody during this meeting openly expressed their agreement with the points Jack made, but most of them soon flaked off from Ralph and joined Jack’s new tribe. Due to their own desire for his type of nature and inhuman ways, the boys chose to accompany Jack. He has shown them the thrill and excitement that comes with hunting and neglecting hard, but necessary tasks, by using his authority.
Once the new alliance had formed, there was no debate on who should be the dominant commander over them. As Jack demanded, “‘We'll hunt. I'm going to be chief.’ They nodded, and the crisis passed easily” (133). Spoken by Jack, this quote amplifies the amount of control he has over his followers, and the knowledge they must have to refrain from arguing his authority.
Eventually, Jack’s misuse of power turns into ultimate savagery, that compels many of the other boys to reflect similar behaviour. As an example for the callousness he displays, the novel describes, “He began to dance and his laughter became a bloodthirsty snarling . He capered toward Bill, and the mask was a thing on its own, behind which Jack hid, liberated from shame and self-consciousness” (Golding 65). Mentioning Jack, this provides evidence that he has transitioned into a deeper level of savagery. In addition, it gives us insight on to how he has developed so far, that he no longer feels shame toward his own actions.
Indications of the rising inhumanity inside of Jack, driven by his source of power, originate all throughout the book. However, the most brutal of these appear near the final points. Violence is used with true intentions now, and is defended with the status of authority, presented by Jack. While many times before he refrained from using extreme violence towards his fellow members on the island, once he gained domination that turned dramatically. “Jack made a rush and stabbed at Ralph's chest with his spear.... They were chest to chest, breathing fiercely, pushing and glaring” (Golding 177). Again, “Viciously, with full intention, he hurled his spear at Ralph. The pint tore the skin and flesh over Ralph's ribs, then sheared off and fell in the water” (Golding 181). It is clear to observe the viciousness in Jack’s nature, and how his authority has corrupted him.
Furthermore, an essential idea is how he used this malice to create a brutal an equally vicious tribe of boys. Ample examples of this are found at numerous places towards the end of Lord of the Flies. When Jack established his authority over the tribe, and the tribe of males wondered further into barbaric ways of human nature, they began to practice many more violent actions. The reason for doing this is credited to Jack, by pushing it onto them. For instance, a conversation from the novel depicts,“‘ He’s going to beat Wilfred.’ ‘What for?’ Robert shook his head doubtfully. ‘I don’t know. He didn’t say. He got angry and made us tie Wilfred up. He’s been’ - he giggled excitedly - ‘he’s been tied up for hours, waiting -’” (Golding 159). Excitement is now displayed from Roger, who was once a more obedient English boy. High authority practices violence as if it is nothing, so Roger is following suit, transitioning from his trained non-violent lifestyle. To illustrate this once more, “High, overhead, Roger, with a sense of delirious abandonment, leaned all his weight on the lever” (Golding 180). During this event, he kills Piggy with intention, and commits the first calculated death. In contrast to this, previous statements from the novel explain,
Roger gathered a handful of stones and began to throw them. Yet there was a space round Henry, perhaps six yards in diameter, into which he dare not throw. Here, invisible yet strong, was the taboo of the old life. Round the squatting child was the protection of parents and school and policemen and the law. Roger’s arm was conditioned by a civilization that knew nothing of him and was in ruins. (Golding 62)
From this, observations may point all the way back to Jack. Without the acts of cruelty he made, being the chief, Roger possibly could have abstained from his own savage acts.
In conclusion, the savage power shown by Jack increasingly polluted himself, and others. The main problems from Lord of Flies commonly point back to the control and leadership. If each boy had worked together, then it is possible that things would have happened with better intentions. Instead, the one with natural control and authority took actions into his own hands, degrading the ways of life and bringing out true human nature. A faulty leader can take a civilized group of boys, and destroy them.