POWER IN LOTF

In the novel Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, power portrays throughout the story in various types of situations. Power is important to this story because it influences each of the three major story elements. It is seen in clarifying a character’s traits, explaining a plot decision, and also relating to another theme. The story shows the different types of power, with their uses and abuses, and are central to the story.

William Golding’s interpretation of the characters in the novel Lord of the Flies, shows power in each of them. Each of the main boys approach the use of power in different ways, it tells a lot about the character and clarifies the characters traits. Ralph is the first lost boy we meet, and is chief. Also, he has the conch, the conch symbolizes power and order. Ralph gets a head start in the island in leadership. While most of the other boys are having fun, and avoiding work, Ralph sets about building huts and thinking of ways to maximize their chances of being rescued. Instead of getting caught up in the hunting bloodlust, he proposes something practical and sensible- to start a fire. “Something deep in Ralph spoke for him. ‘I'm chief. I'll go. Don't argue.”(114) Ralph is not the one agreeing to go look for the beast; it is the chief inside of him. He is a good example of how power can actually make you better. For this reason, Ralph’s power throughout the story has been for greater good. Another character that shows power is Jack, Jack’s use of power the complete opposite of Ralphs. From the beginning of the novel, Jack wants control. He wants to be leader but loses against Ralph. Jack becomes the leader of the hunters and says that hunting is the most important thing to do, not the signal fire. When the ...

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...ld barely see. The glasses was symbolic and shows power in the novel. Piggy even says how getting his glasses back is “the right thing to do” (198) Piggy wants to go to Jack and the others and insist that they give his glasses back. Another example is the boys metaphorically being blind because they were led by Jack’s wrong doing. They did not realize what they were doing and it led to them being savages. Power relates to this because Jack was blinded by his desire for power. All these themes show and relate to the theme of power.

William Golding’s novel Lord of the Flies main theme is power. Power clarifies many characters traits, it explains plot decisions and also relates to other themes in the story. The role of power in the novel. Whether the power was used for good or bad, the story portrays the reality of how power can be treated, even in today’s society.