Ralph Is The Chief In Lord Of The Flies
What kind of characteristics would be needed for a chief to deliver a group of young boys from both the island and the hidden savagery of the heart? In the Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, a group of boys under twelve years of age face this exact situation. The boys are stranded on a tropical island with no adult supervision, and vote Ralph as their chief. However, their decision was predominantly based on his ownership of the conch. After a few weeks on the island, with a more thorough understanding of the boys’ personalities and an increase in conflict and fear, is Ralph really qualified to be chief? Ralph is the best candidate for chief because he knows how to solve problems quickly and efficiently and prioritize ideas and tasks.
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For example, Ralph values rescue over the hunting and killing of pigs. As Jack talks about hunting on the island, Ralph comments, “the best thing we can do is get ourselves rescued” (Golding 54). Ralph knows that even if they don’t die off quickly on the island, they’ll become savages first: “[w]e’ll be like animals. We’ll never be rescued” (99). He may not understand it completely, but he still senses the slow decay of innocence and knows that the boys need to return back to the adult world before it’s too late. If the boys stay on the island, whatever happens will be worse than even death, and consequently, Ralph puts rescue above meat. He is not swayed by the excitement of being wild, and is constantly reminding the boys that their main goal is to get off the island. His ability to prioritize also motivates him to keep the smoke signal going. After all, “how can we ever be rescued except by luck, if we don’t keep a fire going?” (86). Another example of Ralph’s aptitude for sorting through his needs and wants is shown in his concern over the other boys’ health. While they’re still stuck on the island with no sign of rescue, Ralph wants to ensure everyone’s safety. He works on the shelters diligently, even as the other boys “work for five minutes then wander off or go hunting” (51). Ralph does this because he is not only worried about the rain, but the littluns as well: “they dream. You can hear ‘em...They talk and scream” (53). His concern for the other boys’ safety keeps him from being distracted by the simple pleasures of bathing and hunting. As the chief, Ralph reminds the boys that they’re not invincible and there are many things to be considered when stranded on an island. On the other hand, some will argue that Jack is a better leader because he is naturally authoritative and easily controls the boys. However, the only thing Jack cares about is hunting. He doesn’t give the well-being of
For example, Ralph values rescue over the hunting and killing of pigs. As Jack talks about hunting on the island, Ralph comments, “the best thing we can do is get ourselves rescued” (Golding 54). Ralph knows that even if they don’t die off quickly on the island, they’ll become savages first: “[w]e’ll be like animals. We’ll never be rescued” (99). He may not understand it completely, but he still senses the slow decay of innocence and knows that the boys need to return back to the adult world before it’s too late. If the boys stay on the island, whatever happens will be worse than even death, and consequently, Ralph puts rescue above meat. He is not swayed by the excitement of being wild, and is constantly reminding the boys that their main goal is to get off the island. His ability to prioritize also motivates him to keep the smoke signal going. After all, “how can we ever be rescued except by luck, if we don’t keep a fire going?” (86). Another example of Ralph’s aptitude for sorting through his needs and wants is shown in his concern over the other boys’ health. While they’re still stuck on the island with no sign of rescue, Ralph wants to ensure everyone’s safety. He works on the shelters diligently, even as the other boys “work for five minutes then wander off or go hunting” (51). Ralph does this because he is not only worried about the rain, but the littluns as well: “they dream. You can hear ‘em...They talk and scream” (53). His concern for the other boys’ safety keeps him from being distracted by the simple pleasures of bathing and hunting. As the chief, Ralph reminds the boys that they’re not invincible and there are many things to be considered when stranded on an island. On the other hand, some will argue that Jack is a better leader because he is naturally authoritative and easily controls the boys. However, the only thing Jack cares about is hunting. He doesn’t give the well-being of