Set in a futuristic world, William Golding's novel, Lord of the Flies, is a great example of how the id, ego, and superego of people fade in or out of people placed in different situations. For example, when a group of boys crashes an island with no adults, Jack Merridew changes into a savage little boy due to his protruding id. Though, like many of the boys, Jack’s first impressions include a clean and responsible little boy, his character becomes impulsive and violent
Jack’s superego and ego are prominent in the first week after they land, as he is shown as a clean and sane little boy. The description of jack portrays him as a civilized little boy. His face has a “passing pallor” which indicates that his face is clean enough for the narrator
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to illustrate its color (49). The “surge of blood” returning to his face also illustrates that Jack is a clean, pale, little boy (49). His clean face demonstrates Jacks prominent superego since in literature cleanliness is often representative of a clean sense of reality and the world around oneself. Jack's knife is also clean. While hunting a pig for the first time, Jack explains that he was “choosing a place” to kill the pig, and that is why it got away (31). Jacks id is not prominent in this scene because “the enormity of the knife descending and cutting into living flesh” is too much for him (31). Jack does not want to kill the pig enough, and feels as if killing the pig will be immoral, demonstrating his prominent superego. A the first assembly Jack and his hunters claim responsibility for keeping the fire alive (42). Jack is loyal to Ralph and, though he wants power for himself, Jack's ego is prominent and he understands the effects of having a fire and takes responsibility for the most important part of their civilization. Jack's actions in the first few days after the crash show that his prominent ego and superego. Within weeks, Jack starts to change as his id becomes more prominent. Though Jack's face started the first day clean and pale, he decides to paint his face to blend in with the island when hunting. His war paint allows Jacks id to overpower his superego and ego, as he becomes “liberated from shame and self-consciousness” (64). The application of the mask changes Jack's character and pushes aside ethics. With the mask on, Jack craves instant pleasure of meat from a pig and food for the tribe. After Jack kills the pig, the knife that symbolized morality becomes “bloodied” (71). The change in the meaning of the knife parallels Jack’s character change, as he starts to become immoral and the id overpowers his judgment. Jacks id is prominent when he lets the fire go out so that he and his hunters can successfully catch a pig (69). Jack's ego was weak in this scene because he does not consider the effects of the fire going out, or how important the fire is to others in the tribe. The only thing relevant to Jack is his lust for fresh blood. Jacks bases his decisions on want during the pig hunt and shows the early steps of his transformation into a barbaric boy. Jacks Id overpowers his ego and superego after he becomes the leader of his new tribe.
As leader of his tribe, Jack paints his face. The face paint turns Jack and the others in his tribe into “demoniac figures” which terrify Ralph, Piggy and Simon (140). With the mask on, the ego and superego hides, thus, the boys feel no moral or literal consequences for their actions. The is becomes prominent, as shown when the boys kill Piggy and Simon without shown consequences. After creating his new tribe, Jack's knife disappears, and he “carrie[s] death in his hands” instead of the bloody knife (196). Jack is so violent that he does not need a knife, but uses his body and voice as a weapon. Jack leads the boys in the chant that kills Simon and inspires the hatred that kills Piggy. Jack may not kill these two boys, but he is the instigator and inspired the horrible actions made by his tribe. Jack and his hunters succumb to want and instant pleasure when they kill Piggy and Simon, as they are not thinking about the enormity of killing a human being, but about the instant pleasure of quenching their bloodlust. Finally, Jack “set[s] the island on fire” without thinking about how the boys will eat with all the plants and animals burnt (197). This shows the pleasure principle because, in the moment, Jack wanted to kill Ralph, thus he set the Island on fire. If the ego had been present, then Jack may have considered the possible repercussions of lighting the island on fire and hunted Ralph a different way. Had the superego been present, Jack most likely would have left Ralph alone to live on his own, or accepted him into his own tribe. As Jacks id becomes more prominent, Jack ceases to think about the repercussions of his actions and continues to focus on his personal pleasure, rather than the benefit of the group or
island. Jack, who is introduced as a naïve and clean little boy, changes drastically. Though at the first assembly Jack states, “we’re not savages,” Jack turns into one as the id overpowers his superego and ego (42). Finally, after Jack creates his new tribe, he completely forgets any morals he learned in society. Jack, an innocent little boy transforms into a brute as the id becomes more prominent in his decision-making process.
Writer Steven James said, “The true nature of man left to himself without restraint is not nobility but savagery.” This quote can be used to accurately describe Jack Merridew, one of the young boys who becomes stranded on an unknown island in the Pacific. Lord of the Flies was written by William Golding; the novel explores the dark side of humanity and the underlying savagery in even the most civilized person. The novel opens on a group of British boys between ages six and twelve stranded on a tropical island without adult supervision. The boys elect a leader in an attempt to form a civilized society; however, their peaceful island descends into chaos as Ralph and Jack continuously argue over who should be the leader of the island. From the beginning of the novel, Jack is seen as power hungry, envious, and manipulative to further his own agenda, the anti-thesis to Ralph’s concern with social order and their future.
...r hand, Jack attempts to murder Ralph because Jack has become so savage-like. Jacks plan to kill Ralph is to set the entire island on fire. Unfortunately, for Jack, Sam and Eric tell Ralph what is going to happen to him before it happens. Ralph escapes the fire unharmed. This is how Jack’s violence shows he is a dynamic character in the beginning of the novel.
A plane abruptly crashes into an abandoned island, risking the passengers in the plane. Luckily, the boys in the plane survive this devastating event. These boys, isolated from the supervision of adults, cooperate for rescue. A particular boy, encouraged that he can lead the boys successfully, instructs the others. Unfortunately, this responsible boy disguises himself with a mask, which brings a major transformation. For this boy, Jack, a major character in William Golding’s novel Lord of the Flies, his desire for power is greater than his hope for rescue. By Jack putting on the mask, Golding displays a responsible British boy, who focuses on survival, transform to an irresponsible, aggressive human being who is consumed by violence.
Civilization is the force that keeps us all in line. We are taught from an early age that if we break a rule, we are punished. Why? Because that’s how society works. What would happen, though, if we took away society, civilization, and punishment. Would we keep up the rules that had been etched into us since birth and keep living in a civilized manner? In Lord of the Flies, Golding explores this scenario. In his opinion, a person would abandon all ideas of society and revert into a savage, relying on primal instincts to survive. The main character that goes through this is Jack. Throughout the book, Jack goes from being a civilized choir boy to a savage tyrant.
The Lord of the Flies by William Golding is a peculiar story about boys stranded on an island, and the plot and characters relate to many prevailing events and problems. A specific problem that is currently occurring is the mutual hatred and enmity between North Korea and South Korea. This is a current event, but the North and South’s hostility has been ongoing since 1945, when Korea was split into North and South, Communist and Capitalist. When the 38th parallel(Border between North and South Korea) was created, Kim Il-Sung ruled the North, and Syngman Rhee ruled the South. As of now, a power hungry dictator, Kim Jong-un rules the north, and an optimistic president who wants to see change was recently elected in the South, named Moon Jae-in. In Golding’s book, Ralph is a character who aimed to keep everyone alive and to stay together. Jack on the other hand, wanted to have fun and hunt, and although he also wanted to be rescued, he made no effort to help. In this sense, North Korea is a clear representation of the character Jack and his quest for power, and opposingly, South Korea is a representation of Ralph and his strive for order, democracy, and civilization.
“I’m not going to play any longer. Not with you.” (127). Jack leaves Ralph’s tribe because Ralph is a coward and he makes the rules. Jack’s leadership qualities comes back with a force and he makes his own tribe. Jack does like anyone telling him what to do and he is frustrated because of Ralph taking over him. Another reason to make his own tribe is that Ralph does not appreciate Jack hunting and he accuses him to let the fire out. His leadership skills become stronger but in a negative way. His behavior has changed because of hunting and by spending time on the island. Jack has become a sociopath. Even his hunting style has become more violent. After hunting a sow, he tortures the pig physically until the pig has a painful death. He also cuts the throat of the pig and places the head on the stick as a sacrifice. This action shows psychopathic tendency and how he was not able to kill the pig in his first attempt in hunting and now he abuses the pig and sacrifices the head. “He squirmed and looked down.”(160). When Stanley, a member of Jack’s tribe asks Jack about the death of Simon, Jack replies him by nervously saying no. This response by Jack portrays that Jack is trying to tell himself that he his not responsible for his own actions. During Simon’s murder, Jack was wearing a mask on his face and that makes him not responsible for Simon’s murder. During the end of the novel, Jack starts wearing his mask all the time because he does not want to be responsible for his own actions. ““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 for hours, waiting-”” (159). This quote from the novel clearly shows how Jack has been treating his tribe members. He is beating them for no reason by tieing them up for hours. Jack shows no emotion and he has become cold blooded. The
Jack’s authoritarian power over Ralph’s democratic power makes Jack the most powerful character in the novel. The power also causes Jack to become and greedy and selfish to point where he thinks he thinks he is the best at everything including hunting and leading the boys. He makes himself invincible and confident by using his own tool of power, paint. Once weak by the way he looked, Jack starts to use paint to cover his weak and shameful face that lacked power. This paint hid Jack’s true identity and “liberated [him] from shame and self-consciousness”(64).With all of the confidence through the paint and support of the boys, Jack finds himself invincible and blinded from the reality and civilization they once had. This behavior from Jack influences other boys on the island to become his followers and turn into savages himself. In this transformation to becoming savages, the characters are introduced to a fear which is an illusion that is created by one of the littluns on the island. The illusion is a beast who is able to impact the lives of the boys because the boys become really dependent on the beast. In order to solve the fear that is created in the minds of the young boys, the two powerful characters take two different views
Having an individual take control over a group is inevitable. Adolf Hitler took over Germany; at first he was appointed as chancellor but the Germans’ let him get away with taking over as dictator (Truemen , 2013). It was out of fear that the Germans’ let him be in power. In Lord of the Flies, William Golding utilizes Jack as the most important character in the novel because of how his psychological personality affects the plot. Jack, much like Hitler, gains control by instilling fear into the others and takes over as leader. Throughout the whole book Golding continues to use Jack to twist the story. He stands in the way of the other boys’ success in getting off of the island. Jack is motivated by his id and seeks authority at all costs, illuminating that the desire for power can eventually undermine and hide the goodness in an individual.
William Golding’s novel ‘The Lord of The Flies’ tells the story of a group of English boys isolated on a desert island, left to attempt to retain civilisation. In the novel, Golding shows one of the boys, Jack, to change significantly. At the beginning of the book, Jack’s character desires power and although he does not immediately get it, he retains the values of civilized behaviour. However, as the story proceeds, his character becomes more savage, leaving behind the values of society. Jack uses fear of the beast to control the other boys and he changes to become the book’s representation of savagery, violence and domination. He is first taken over with an obsession to hunt, which leads to a change in his physical appearance This change of character is significant as he leads the other boys into savagery, representing Golding’s views of there being a bad and unforgiving nature to every human.
(Pg. 63).The book is showing that Jack is releasing a new form of him. He's embracing his surroundings and learning to live in different world. Body Paragraph Two: Personality Traits Jack comes off as a careless, arrogant, conceited boy, who wanted to take over as leader. He felt as if he was better than the other because he was a choir boy.
As the common adage states, “people change”. This maxim, however, does not explain the cause of this change or the reason why people lose their identities. In the book Lord of the Flies by William Golding, loss of identity and the cause of this loss is a common theme throughout the novel. In the book, little boys turn from innocent children to bloodthirsty savages as a result of them being stranded on an island without any adults. This theme, loss of identity, and its cause are not just apparent in Lord of the Flies, but also in many other mediums, including movies, music, books, and news articles. These sources show that identities are not lost when all is well, but only when life becomes a living hell.
Much of history’s most renown literature have real-world connections hidden in them, although they may be taxing uncover. William Golding’s classic, Lord of the Flies, is no exception. In this work of art, Golding uses the three main characters, Piggy, Jack, and Ralph, to symbolize various aspects of human nature through their behaviors, actions, and responses.
it is the head of the choir that turns out to be the most savage shows
Throughout history, it has been noted that when an individual is isolated from civilization, various psychological effects take a toll on that person’s well-being. Sigmund Freud, an Austrian psychologist, believed that when a person is isolated from civilization, a darker “savage” side naturally takes over (“Id, Ego, and Super-ego” n. pag). William Golding shared this belief and used it as inspiration to write one of his most well-known novels, Lord of the Flies. Freud’s findings on the human mind led him to believe there are three main parts: The id, the ego, and the super-ego (“Id, Ego, and Super-ego” n. pag). Jack, Ralph, Simon, and Piggy are not only the main characters in Golding’s Lord of the Flies, but also embody the id, ego, and super-ego characteristics of Freudian psychology.
Sigmund Freud’s theory on the components of the human mind has been around for over a century, and although not used much anymore, Psychoanalysis is a useful tool for decoding many pieces of literature. In this case, Freud’s theory is especially useful in finding an allegory for William Golding’s Lord of the Flies. For the most part, the Psychoanalysis theory is used in terms of the three components of the mind; the Id, the Ego and the Superego. However, Lord of the Flies is an allegorical interpretation for Sigmund Freud’s Psychoanalysis theory in regards to the plot events as oppose to the characters. This is proven by specific plot events such as the crash on to the island, the murder of both Piggy and Simon, and the rescue from the island.