Jack Merridew's Savagery

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Recommended: Leaders in Lord of the Flies

Ralph, a leader devoted to the welfare of his peers, is surrounded by the pressures of foreboding chaos; one by one the boys fell into favor of savagery rather than saving themselves, gifting Ralph’s power to someone who knew how to wield their emotions at the cost of their well being. There is a clear comparison between the values of both Ralph and his rival, Jack Merridew, in chapter four, when Jack not only fails to keep the fire going as a ship passes by, but is also called out for avoiding helping the construction of the huts. We see this in Jack’s following thoughts, “...knowledge that they had outwitted a living thing, imposed their will upon it, taken away its life like a long satisfying drink,” (70) showing that Jack, even though he’s …show more content…

Jack shows the boys that they don’t need rules to function when he disregards an important symbol of order, “We don’t need the conch anymore.”(22) the conch being the one instrument that would bring peace and order amongst the boys, especially when rules were involved. This develops into an entirely new group with a clear hierarchy and savage morals, demonstrated in conversation of some of the members, “‘He’s going to beat wilfred.’ ‘What for?’ (...) ‘I don’t …show more content…

He, from early on, starts building a hierarchy and demonstrates his abilities when placed in power. Jack “stuck his fist into Piggy’s stomach” (71) at a time Jack was vulnerable, sending a message that he was powerful and could take control over any situation. In possibly one of the most dramatic moments in the story, Jack leads a crowd in a barbaric ritual, a crown consisting even of Ralph and Piggy, not to mention the rest of the boys. Simon, center of the ritual felt the “sticks fell and the mouth of the new circle crunched and screamed (...) arms folded over its face. It was crying out against the abominable noise,” (152) a horrific scene carried by the horrors of what an influenced crowd is capable of. Jack wants to be in control, he wants to be a god, bending the lives of others at his will. He desperately clings to this after a power trip from murdering Piggy, proclaiming “ See? That’s what you’ll get! I mean that! There isn't a tribe for you anymore! The conch is gone,” to Ralph, explaining his position on being a leader. Unfortunately, his ideas only bring harm to his peers, a deep hopelessness that cannot be escaped amongst his rein. There is no order. There is no hope. Jack is a sadistic

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