The Leadership of Jack and Ralph in Lord of the Flies

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The Leadership of Jack and Ralph in Lord of the Flies

Throughout the novel Lord of the Flies, Ralph tries his best to create a society based on survival. As time progresses, it is clear that Jack's feelings are towards living life and having fun. Jack's society eventually leads to corruption, killing innocent people, while Ralph's prevails as the boys are rescued. Ralph uses a repetition of hope towards being saved while Jack's technique with no thought clearly flounders creating savages out of the once civilized boys.

Ralph's original society is split because of lack of interest with some of the individuals. They begin to loose faith in themselves, and thus seek fun and fortune. In the end the group seeking a long-term reward beats out the group looking for short- term rewards, as Ralph's group prevails, causing Jack's to lose stimulating death among the other boys.

"When Ralph spoke again his voice was low, and seemed breathless.

`What have I done? I liked him-and I wanted us to be rescued'

Again the stars spilled about the sky. Eric shook his head, earnestly.

`Listen Ralph. Never mind what's sense. That's gone-'

`Never mind about the Chief-'

`-you got to go for your own good.'

`The Chief and Roger-'

`-yes, Roger-'

`They hate you, Ralph. They're going to do you.'

`They're going to hunt you to-morrow.'"(1)

Here, the reader is basically told on what the two groups have to offer. Ralph's group is based on being rescued, while Jack's group is pro-hunting and other games in the wilderness.

From the start, Ralph tries to keep the fire as the key-stone in the group. He knows that fire and smoke is used best to signal ships at a distance. This is what infact saves the stranded boys. In his group, Ralph makes shelters and calls assemblies. By using this method of bringing civilization to the island, the boys can thus remember what modern day society was like, and from then on can keep faith in themselves towards being rescued. Never once throughout the novel Lord of the flies, does Ralph become influenced or influence others towards savagery.

Although Ralph may seem like the ideal leader, he lacks in many characteristics; the main one being intelligence. Throughout the novel Ralph has to depend on Piggy for ideas.

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