Jack Lord Of The Flies Leadership Analysis

A good leader is someone that can take responsibility, and be in charge of who they are leading; this doesn’t mean that these ideas have to be right and moral. In the novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding, some critics argue that Jack is a better leader than Ralph, while others believe that Ralph has the upper hand on leading over Jack. Even though many readers feel that Ralph is the best leader, it is clearly shown through evidence that Jack is the more superior leader.
Jack has shown through the novel he is a better chief, and Ralph cannot compete with Jack. One example of Jack being a better leader is when he was able to control the choir very well. The choir throughout the book was known as Jacks choir, because he managed them

at an excellent rate. A specific example of Jack controlling the choir is “‘Choir!

Stand still!’ Wearily obedient, the choir huddled into the line and stood there swaying in the sun. (Golding 20)” This quote demonstrates that the choir is literally owned by Jack, they will listen to him no matter what. Jack also shows his power when he challenges Ralph that he wants to be chief. He was very determined, even though he was not elected. For instance Jack says “‘I ought to be chief,’ said Jack with simple arregondance ‘because i’m chapter chorister and head boy.(Godling 22)’” This clearly proves that Jack has power, and shows he will be not be messed with. Another way that Jack shows his power, which is stronger than Ralphs, this time not through harsh words or actions, but being nice to the enemy. Jack had given meat to Ralph and Piggy, and was kinda nice to them even though they got the meat from the hunting that Ralph didn’t like. This is shown from a quote indirectly from the novel as “In fairness to Jack it must be

said that in certain important respects his reign of terror is a more effective form of government that Ralph’s. He gives the boys meat and he is able to keep them in order, to put a stop to quarrels, fragmentation and ever sheer laziness in a way which Ralph was not.(D’Ammassa)” This quote determines that even though Jack is like a devil sometimes, all people are humans inside, and this includes Jack. Jack has been proven through this paragraph that he is a better leader than Ralph.
Even though Jack is a better leader, Ralph is thought to be superior by some critics, but this is clearly false. Proponents of this theory argue that Ralph can control the kids by simple hand gestures. Supporters for Ralph believe that this was because Ralph can easily take control and deal with what he is given. The citation that the critics use for this is “Ralph raised his hand for silence.(Godling 22)” Challengers think this because Ralph was the first one to take control on the island, and everyone had listened to him. Naysayers also claim that Ralph is better than Jack when they claim Ralph can control the group by saying good things. Apparently Ralph says these things to calm down the kids. This point is shown when “The conjunction used by Ralph implies a confidence that we can have both things—fun and rescue—together. The boys have had a happy accident: they will have a delightful, unexpected, adult-free holiday, with rescue just around the corner the moment boredom begins”(Reilly). This quote demonstrates that critics think Ralph has total control over the group, and that he tells them that it wasn’t a bad scenery and they can and enjoy and get saved at the same time. The naysayers also say that Ralph wants to make them being stuck on an island a good a experience and a good time. The last thing the challengers believe is that Ralph goes serious, and he has no time to fool around, so this makes him very scary and intimidating which scares the littluns. Ralph evidently had changed the kids views on the island and Jack. This is shown through an example of “ We need an assembly. Not for fun. Not for laughing and falling off the log…(Golding 79)” This quote shows that some people believe that Ralph can change his believings on the way he is feeling, and the way to enforce his rules. They say that Ralph has a certain way of teaching, that affects the littluns. Regardless that some critics support the statements stated above, there is more and better evidence that Jack is a better leader than Ralph.
Ralph cannot compete with Jack, because he has shown through the novel he is a better leader.

Jack has shown he is the superior leader to Ralph, and can control the group of kids. Jack uses excellent tactics to take valuable resources that he needs for his tribe. A specific example of this is when Jack said “We’ll raid them and take fire. There must be four of you; Henry and you, Robert and Maurice… we’ll build the fire there.(Golding 136)” This quote shows that Jack needed to do whatever was necessary to provide the satisfaction of his people as chief. Jack needed the fire, and he took responsibility and ordered his members to get it for him. Jack also had shown authority when he was yelling and getting mad because he wanted prisoners. Since it was not happening he had to use force to control it. To demonstrate this idea “‘why aren’t you on watch’ Roger looked at him gravely. ‘The chief snatched one of the few spears that were left and poked sam in the ribs.(Golding 182)”’ This shows the central idea that Jack, at the end, started becoming very aggressive kid. He needed to show his power so his tribe would understand him. Sam and Eric were the ones to take the blame for it. Jack has shown great control, and he was a great leader. This is expressed when “ In the final chapter we have the very unpleasant feeling that we are being hunted by Jack and Roger. How we fear and loathe their extravagant instabble evil(Boyer)” As a result to this, Jack was the lead roll of his

terror. At the end of the novel he was very angry, and he had shown aggression by trying to kill Ralph after killing Simon and Piggy.
Advocates believe that Ralph is a better leader ,however that is clearly incorrect, and Jack is a higher quality leader. Some opponents think that Ralph is a more fitting leader, while others believe that Jack is the stronger leader. A good leader is someone that knows how to handle the power they were given. They are very powerful, and important to the group.