Lord of the Flies
Lord of the Flies Deep inside each individual is a psychological choice to be made between good and evil. In William Golding’s novel, Lord of the Flies, this choice and its subsequent results are represented by Ralph and Jack. With no rules and no adults on the island to guide them, Jack gives into his evil desires. Whereas Ralph struggles to maintain a sense of humanity and constantly tries to strive to do good. Both started off as English schoolboys, but when left alone on the island human nature tends to make the choices.
When the boys first land on the island they still have their childish innocence. They still remember their English upbringing. They work together to build a civilized community like back in the adult world they have suddenly been separated from. Even though Ralph was chosen leader, Jack agrees there is a need for rules, “ I agree with Ralph. We’ve got to have rules and obey them. After all, we’re not savages. We are English, and English are best at everything. So, we’ve got to do the right things.” (38).
But slowly his actions started to change. He realized there were no repercussions for his actions. He was free from punishment. He chose to give in to his evil desires. And when he painted a mask on his face, he lost all sense of humanity, his transformation into a savage was complete. “He began to dance and his laughter became a bloodthirsty snarling. He capered towards Bill, and the mask was a thing on it’s own, behind which Jack hid, liberated from shame and self-consciousness.” (58). Jack used the mask to let out his evil desires and hide from shame. He was masking his the identity of what was a chapter chorist and head boy into a maniacal and manipulative savage. But, the mask can’t hide the fact that we are capable of evil. Evidently the only thing separating us is our choices.
Whereas Jack chose to be evil, Ralph overcome his inner desires to do evil. Ralph was chosen by the other boys to be the leader of the group.
When the boys first land on the island they still have their childish innocence. They still remember their English upbringing. They work together to build a civilized community like back in the adult world they have suddenly been separated from. Even though Ralph was chosen leader, Jack agrees there is a need for rules, “ I agree with Ralph. We’ve got to have rules and obey them. After all, we’re not savages. We are English, and English are best at everything. So, we’ve got to do the right things.” (38).
But slowly his actions started to change. He realized there were no repercussions for his actions. He was free from punishment. He chose to give in to his evil desires. And when he painted a mask on his face, he lost all sense of humanity, his transformation into a savage was complete. “He began to dance and his laughter became a bloodthirsty snarling. He capered towards Bill, and the mask was a thing on it’s own, behind which Jack hid, liberated from shame and self-consciousness.” (58). Jack used the mask to let out his evil desires and hide from shame. He was masking his the identity of what was a chapter chorist and head boy into a maniacal and manipulative savage. But, the mask can’t hide the fact that we are capable of evil. Evidently the only thing separating us is our choices.
Whereas Jack chose to be evil, Ralph overcome his inner desires to do evil. Ralph was chosen by the other boys to be the leader of the group.
Cited: Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. New York: New York, 1954.