Wilfred Lord Of The Flies Quote Analysis

Fight for Power
In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, there is a racial discrimination against the African Americans because the whites think they are the superior. Tom Robinson, an African American man, is held on trial for rape. Although everyone knows he did not assault Mayella Ewell, society takes him to jail, so they can gain power by sending an innocent man away. Their white community feels superior, so they lock him up to receive status. In Lord of the Flies by William Golding, the boys on the island gain pride by being disrespectful and cruel toward those with a lesser position, revealing that society’s superiors will treat the weak poorly to earn power.
Due to Piggy’s differences, he is a common enemy and an easy target, so the boys

jeer at him, proving society harasses individuals who do not fit into the accepted standards, for their community to earn a better reputation. During the first meeting on the island, the boys tease Piggy for his school nickname: “A storm of laughter arose and even the tiniest child joined in. For the moment the boys were a closed circuit of sympathy with Piggy outside” (21). Because Piggy is overweight and responds differently, the boys on the island choose to avoid him. They exclude Piggy for his uniqueness, subjecting him from their inability to accept him. Since his society recognizes his vulnerability, they take advantage of him by teasing and insulting his nickname. Their society behaves harshly towards Piggy by forcing him out from the group circle, assuming they will earn a greater supremacy from their actions. Because Piggy is the prey to the boys’ intense behavior, he feels humiliated. Superiors tease the weak to rise up in society. Piggy’s low status is reinforced when Ralph asks who will join him on an expedition to figure out if they landed on an island. Piggy volunteers, but Ralph insists, “You’re no good on a job like this” (24). Because Piggy seems foolish and irresponsible, Ralph denies Piggy’s request. With his weight and looks, Ralph prohibits him from a journey because he does not have the accepted stereotypes. He rejects Piggy because of unwanted embarrassment. Without Piggy, Ralph’s position remains strong. Ralph's status as the group's chief ultimately factors into his unkind actions towards Piggy. By refusing Piggy on the exploration, his ranking increases because everyone knows his side. Individuals treat the weak less. Because Piggy appears worthless, Jack and his tribe attack him and steal his glasses: “From his left hand dangled Piggy’s broken glasses” (168). Since Piggy’s glasses represent power, Jack steals the only object Piggy has to have a say. Without his glasses, Piggy is irrelevant because his glasses produce fire, meaning the boys’ rescue depends on him. Piggy’s specs brings him confidence because society needs him. Therefore, Jack benefits a pleasure in becoming the better against Piggy. Although Piggy never had much power or even a voice, Merridew lessens Piggy’s reputation, demonstrating to the boys his capacity. Stronger individuals steal from the poor to achieve a firm status. Society’s attitude is bitter against powerless individuals.
Since Roger’s ranking is greater than most of the boys on the island, he steals power and uses it himself by defeating humanity, proving selfish individuals will act unfairly to the weak in order to develop pride.

Roger’s heartless self emerges when Wilfred is tied up and he “received this news as an illumination. He ceased to work at his tooth and sat still, assimilating the possibilities of irresponsible authority” (160). To Roger, Wilfred deserves his punishment. Holding more power than most of the boys, Roger knows they cannot control him since they fear his strength. He feeds on Wilfred’s pain with malevolence by giggling at his discipline. Because Roger becomes more savage watching someone hurt, he turns closer to being the superior. The strong will torment the less. Roger’s innate evil appears when Ralph’s group finds Jack’s tribe and Piggy suffers: “Roger, with a sense of delirious abandonment, leaned all his weight on the lever…The rock struck Piggy a glancing blow from chin to knee” (181). Demanding control, Roger sacrifices Piggy’s life for his own desires. Now, realizing there are no supervisors protecting the boys, Roger finally adapts to the island and his own immorality. Because Piggy acts defenseless, Roger kills him, signifying superiors end lives for their own self-esteem. Roger murders Piggy in need of power to acknowledge his skill and talent for success. Selfish individuals will do anything for themselves. Since Roger is inhumane, Samneric announces to

Ralph on the day the boys decide to kill him, “Roger sharpened a stick at both ends” (190). Because he is desperate for power, he is willing to murder Ralph with one end of the stick. Then, cut his head off and place it onto the second end. Treating Ralph with cruelty, Roger develops a sense of accomplishment, admitting to himself he can defeat the chosen chief, who once had the highest status and most respect on the island. Even though Ralph did not do anything, Roger decides to overtake an innocent life. Once he learns and adapts to the killing, Roger’s violence progressively grows. Self-centered individuals will be cruel to others. Since bloodthirsty individuals will take a life for power, their savagery increases.
Like Roger, Jack wants to be the superior and kills for power, explaining that hungry individuals will sacrifice a life for their own pride.

At the beginning of the book, Jack’s evil progresses, until eventually, he “cut the pig’s throat” (69). Because he achieves his goal, killing a pig, he needs more control. Although Jack used to fear the unbearable blood of slaughtering animals, he now has courage to murder any living creature. He believes he can defeat society since he takes pride for killing the sow. The pride within him increases and Jack becomes savage. Even though he claims to spend his day slaughtering pigs for meat, the reality is he becomes obsessed with the idea of killing. In order for him to earn more authority, Jack changes by being selfish. He maintains his status by sacrificing lives, so others will be afraid of him. Once an individual becomes evil, they cannot stop themselves. During the third dance, Simon joins, trying to explain to everyone about the ‘beast.” Instead of the boys listening, they decide to murder him, “There were no words, and no movements but the tearing of teeth and claws” (152). Jack teaches his society to be vicious. Although every boy knows Simon is not the “beast,” they cannot control themselves, so they rip him to shreds. The savagery in their inhumanity makes them kill. As their adrenaline rises, the boys take Simon’s life to receive power. Although they all admire Simon, they had the chance to earn status, so they willingly use

it. They choose power over a life. Determined individuals will do anything to rise up as the superior. Jack’s evil reappears when the boys could not find Ralph to kill, so they “smoked him out and set the whole island on fire” (197). Jack, so determined to become the best, orders his tribe to light the island on fire. Even though they could have all died, Jack holds a grudge against everyone since he was not chosen chief. He ignores safety and burns the island on fire for his own supremacy. Because he wants to be the most powerful, he gives up his life for his status. Power hungry individuals will be foolish. Because society wants authority, they sacrifice lives for pride.
The boys on the island all fight for supremacy by behaving harshly towards one another, proving individuals will act malevolently for dominance. Piggy is bullied for his weight since he is different, so his society receives control. Roger’s actions toward the unaccepted individuals on the island prove selfish individuals treat others with disrespect. Because Jack wants to be the superior, he kills for supremacy. Society will act poorly to the weak individuals to gain a better reflection upon themselves.