The Leadership Of Jack And Ralph In Lord Of The Flies:

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. "`He's like Piggy. He says things like Piggy. He isn't a proper chief.'"(2)

At this point, the others began to feel the effect that Ralph has brought on to them from listening to Piggy's ideas. Ralph continues to useideas from Piggy throughout the story, but they are ignored more and more. The ideas that once formed democracy throughout the novel, have now turned to dust. Even though they are much stronger, having more thought put into them, the others rebuke what is said after realizing that it has come from Piggy, the most detested boy on the island. The above quote is stated by Jack, the future chief, as he is one of the stronger ones in the group. By having said this, Jack now realizes the weakness of his old leader, Ralph, and can elaborate on what is being done. Jack's statement somehow stays inside the minds of the boys, and from this, Ralph looses most of his power.

Jack on the other hand is at a point to only gain members into his newly formed group. By being the only big kid on the island that does not listen to Piggy, his power grows. The others joining the group do not realize what they are getting into because there is no other big person to oppose Jack in the group. This gives them the illusion that Jack is never wrong and can handle the role on being a "sole-leader".

Quickly the others realize that Jacks group only hunts and has fun. This attracts almost all the others that have not yet joined the hunting tribe, leaving only a few to manage survival on Ralph's side. As more boys enter the tribe, Jack's power seems to increase. Whatever belief enters his mind, the others will follow and obey with no question. Eventually this goes too far, as Simon is killed being mistaken for a beast. Although already one death has occurred, the others do not seem to realize what has happened, and continue to give their new chief power. Jack's tribe then kills Piggy, and goes on a rampage, as Jack "brainwashes" the others into believing that Ralph's customs were boring and wrong. This is what sets all the others out to kill Ralph at the end.

As one can see from the start, Jack's tribe changes their lifestyles to a primitive state, while Ralph's seeks the future in life. Ralph thus thinks on a more matured level by learning from past mistakes, while Jack only seeks the fun out of life. This is the main reason why Ralph's group, even though lonesome, still prevails. Ralph and Jack indeed set different rules under each other's turf. The two leaders follow different beliefs, and thus have different lives to live, and groups to lead.

"`I'm going off by myself. He can catch his own pigs. Anyone

who wants to hunt when I do can come too.'"(3)

Jack sets his views straight as he believes that hunting is good enough for a tribe to live off. He also tries to encourage others this way by bringing up fun in hunting, thus taking them away from the boring "working life" that Ralph has to offer. In the quote itself, Jack states that the others can go when he wants to go. This may be a foreshadow of the type of leader he is, and what he may do. The quote also informs the reader that Jack has set