Leadership In Lord Of The Flies

The role of leadership is a huge thing to take on as an adult but even more so as a child. To have such a large role as a child could put an enormous amount of pressure on them. They could think that they know what they’re doing at first and then when it comes down to their peers looking to them for guidance, they could crack. Even though it depends on the child, it is always a possibility. In William Golding’s novel ‘Lord of the Flies’, the character Ralph takes on the role of leadership for a group of boys who are stranded on a deserted island with him after their plane had gone down. As a twelve year old coming from such a civilized place, taking on the role of leadership must seem fun. You get to have people follow your commands right?

Well not so much after it makes your sanity slowly deteriorates. Golding demonstrates Ralph gradually going into a distress mode after becoming a leader. Through the characterization of Ralph being a leader, civilized yet nearly on the brink of insanity, Golding conveys the idea that taking on such a large role as an adolescent may make the mind forget the feeling of staying completely sane.
Ralph pretty much declares himself leader when he first sets foot on the island.

What is the reasoning behind him doing this? Probably for his want to get off the island. Ralph thinks he is able to help himself and the other boys find a way to get themselves a temporary shelter until they are able to get rescued. In one of the first scenes, the boys have a vote deciding who will be leader (chief), Ralph or Jack Merridew. Ralph says “who wants me?” “Every hand outside the choir’s except Piggy’s was raised immediately. Then piggy too raised his hand grudgingly into the air” (Golding 15). Ralph was chosen as chief because he had the conch and the conch signifies that. The boys think the conch is almighty power and whoever has is the key man. Leadership is also seen in Ralph when the boys hunt for the beast. Knowing he is leader, he has to have courage but, is scared. “He pushed on, staggering sometimes with his weariness but never stopping ... He found his legs were weak and his tongue gave him pain all the time” (Golding 130). Ralph is taking one for the team and actually going in for the kill. Again you see Leadership in Ralph during their rescue when he tells the officer he is boss and makes the decisions for the whole group. “Whos boss here?” “I am.” (Golding 182). Ralph has excellent leadership skills but, they don’t come so much in handy during the moments that clearly demonstrate his

civilization.
body 2&3
As a young adolescent boy, Ralph was chosen to take on a very large and very important role within this novel. He came from a location that was very civilized but, after being on this island for quite some time, he started to lose his own sanity little by little. At times, Ralph was a very headstrong boy, taking charge of missions and making decisions on behalf of what is best for the group. He does a very good job of managing a group of boys ages six to twelve. There are also situations where Ralph even forgets his purpose, or even what he is doing on this island in the first place. Golding may have wanted to have a character struggle or forget their meaning to convey that being stranded on an island is not all fun and games when you need to get down to serious business. Giving one of the positions of being a leader to Ralph (the other to Jack) was a very good way to show that leadership is tough and you may have your setbacks.