What Is Piggy's Role In Lord Of The Flies

891 Words2 Pages

http://www.womenfolk.com/ In William Golding's Lord of the Flies, the example of a group of British school boys is used to represent our society as we know it. Essentially they are a microcosm, representing our universe in miniature. They make up the key components of society; with each representing one of the four main components of man's personality. Ralph, the leader, represents law, order, and what is right in the world. He is sensible, putting rescue ahead of fun. Piggy is the rational one of the group. He prefers the use of numbers and logic, and is easily the most mature of all the boys. Simon embodies all that is good, and could be described as the Christ of the island. He is the spiritual component of mankind, and does no wrong in …show more content…

He demonstrates remarkable leadership skills, and a faint callousness, which grows with time. When we are first introduced to Jack, he demonstrates this heartlessness, commanding his choir to ignore Simon when he faints. And despite their reluctance, they agree for the time being. In the choir's minds, Jack almost godly presence rationalizes anything, and everything he orders them to do is done. Hence, Jack is able to use his tremendous skills of persuasion to make sensible, and genuinely good people commit callous and cruel acts. Jack arrives on the island having been both choirmaster and head boy. Hence, he is used to throwing his weight around to get what he wants. He is eager to lead and make rules, yet he consistently breaks them to further his own interests. He is mainly interested in hunting, and while this begins innocently enough with the desire for meat, it eventually leads to Jack wishing to dominant and kill the creatures of the …show more content…

Jack immediately tries to dominate the group, nominating himself for the position of leader, and then when unsuccessful at being established the leader, forcing rules upon the group. Despite this, he constantly bends the rules to his advantage. Jack repeatedly ignores the rule of the conch, frequently stating that it does not count in certain parts of the island, and yelling at Piggy when he (Piggy) has the conch. Yet he then uses the conch to his advantage, calling various assemblies so as to usurp Ralph. Ralph immediately looses interest in the rules, politeness and etiquette of society that existed in the "other" world. For his entire life, he had been controlled by the boundaries enforced by society. Yet on the island, away from the world, Jack reverts to his true self. Hence, he sees no reason to help in building the shelters, keeping the fire going, or any other tasks that will better the group. When the beast is sighted on the mountain, the true dictator in Jack is revealed. He immediately begins plotting a coup against Ralph. He twists Ralph's words, and implies that a leader should be a good hunter. Jack values those who agree with him, and those who he considers useful. To further his goal of leadership, he

More about What Is Piggy's Role In Lord Of The Flies

Open Document