Jack Selfish In Lord Of The Flies
“Humans are naturally driven by a perpetual and restless desire of power.” (Thomas Hobbes) Every single human being is selfish and rebellious; it’s an undeniable fact about human nature. Humans will act naturally selfish in a situation without proper order, often leading to the corruption of society. In William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, the corruption of society is demonstrated through Jack’s attitude towards elements that are necessary for the survival of their civilization. Jack’s opinions in regard to rules, the huts, Ralph, and killing deeply influence the island’s descent into corruption.
Jack demonstrates his enthusiasm at the possibility of creating rules because the ability to create and to enforce rules is a prominent display …show more content…
At first, Jack’s conscience stops him from killing a pig. Later on, he is completely immersed in the sensation of killing and hunting. When Ralph, Simon, and Jack first explore the island, they encounter a wild pig that they decide to hunt. Jack was unable to kill the pig “because of the enormity of the knife descending and cutting into living flesh; because of the unbearable blood.” (31) In humiliation, Jack gives us a glimpse at his violent tendencies by stabbing a tree, claiming that he will kill the pig at the next possible opportunity. When Jack finally manages to kill a pig, his success is accompanied by repercussion. Jack pretentiously ignores his duties to tend to the fire and instead goes hunting to prove his strength. When he triumphantly returns with a dead pig, chanting, Ralph and Piggy are quick to admonish him. At this moment, Jack begins to resent Ralph. Later on in the novel, Jack, Ralph, and some other boys hunt a large boar. Even though the boar escapes, the boys work themselves into mayhem by chanting, dancing, and reenacting the hunt with Robert playing the boar. The group gets carried away and almost slaughters Robert. Jack thinks nothing of this fact and even blatantly suggests that they “use a littlun”(115) next time. This demonstrates Jack’s lack of morals. Near the end of the book, Jack feels absolutely no remorse when executing destructive and cruel actions towards anyone who dares to oppose him. When Jack and his tribe invade Ralph’s camp to steal Piggy’s glasses, they also desecrate Ralph, Piggy and the rest of Ralph’s followers. After this event, Ralph, Piggy, and Sam n’ Eric decide to travel to Castle Rock to demand the return of Piggy’s glasses and to make Jack see reason. At their arrival, Ralph bluntly accuses Jack of being a “beast and a swine and a bloody, bloody thief” (179). This sends Jack into a rage, causing him to attack Ralph “with full
Jack demonstrates his enthusiasm at the possibility of creating rules because the ability to create and to enforce rules is a prominent display …show more content…
At first, Jack’s conscience stops him from killing a pig. Later on, he is completely immersed in the sensation of killing and hunting. When Ralph, Simon, and Jack first explore the island, they encounter a wild pig that they decide to hunt. Jack was unable to kill the pig “because of the enormity of the knife descending and cutting into living flesh; because of the unbearable blood.” (31) In humiliation, Jack gives us a glimpse at his violent tendencies by stabbing a tree, claiming that he will kill the pig at the next possible opportunity. When Jack finally manages to kill a pig, his success is accompanied by repercussion. Jack pretentiously ignores his duties to tend to the fire and instead goes hunting to prove his strength. When he triumphantly returns with a dead pig, chanting, Ralph and Piggy are quick to admonish him. At this moment, Jack begins to resent Ralph. Later on in the novel, Jack, Ralph, and some other boys hunt a large boar. Even though the boar escapes, the boys work themselves into mayhem by chanting, dancing, and reenacting the hunt with Robert playing the boar. The group gets carried away and almost slaughters Robert. Jack thinks nothing of this fact and even blatantly suggests that they “use a littlun”(115) next time. This demonstrates Jack’s lack of morals. Near the end of the book, Jack feels absolutely no remorse when executing destructive and cruel actions towards anyone who dares to oppose him. When Jack and his tribe invade Ralph’s camp to steal Piggy’s glasses, they also desecrate Ralph, Piggy and the rest of Ralph’s followers. After this event, Ralph, Piggy, and Sam n’ Eric decide to travel to Castle Rock to demand the return of Piggy’s glasses and to make Jack see reason. At their arrival, Ralph bluntly accuses Jack of being a “beast and a swine and a bloody, bloody thief” (179). This sends Jack into a rage, causing him to attack Ralph “with full