Lord of The Flies
Characterization in The Lord of the Flies: Golding uses characterization to illustrate the theme that the need for power and security often lead to mistreat those who do not fit in.
The characterization of Piggy shows that people who do not fit in are often maltreated. Golding portrays Piggy as a social outcast by characterization. Piggy tells Ralph, “that’s right. Can’t catch my breath. I was the only boy in our school what had asthma” (Golding 9). Piggy is different from the other boys in the island. His asthma makes him not fit in and the boys treat him cruelly because of it. Piggy is also a social outcast by his obesity, shortness, and spectacles. Golding describes Piggy as, “He was shorter than the fair boy and very fat he came forward, searching out safe lodgments for his feet, and then looked up through thick spectacles” (Golding 1). Piggy is plump, wears glasses, and is undersized, the boys use all these disadvantages to make fun of him and make him not fit in. They call him Piggy because of his overweightness, which he hates and feels sadden by. The portrayal of Piggy as obese, asthma, eyeglasses, and his shortness are to show those who are not will misuse people who do not fit in.
The characterization of Jack shows the need for power lead people to brutalization of others. Golding portrays Jack as an ascendancy hungry boy. Jack tells the boys, “I ought to be chief, said Jack with simple arrogance, because I’m chapter chorister and head boy. I can sing C sharp” (Golding 22). Jack shows that he is superiority hungry from the beginning. He wants domination of the boys and will do anything to get it. Jack also mistreats others to get leadership. Jack needing to make fire, “ he snatched the glasses off Piggy’s face” (Golding 40). Jack takes the glasses by force from Piggy. Piggy, who does not fit in, is furious by how Jack takes his glasses. Jack mistreats Piggy to obtain power, power being the fire. The impersonation of Jack wanting supremacy
The characterization of Piggy shows that people who do not fit in are often maltreated. Golding portrays Piggy as a social outcast by characterization. Piggy tells Ralph, “that’s right. Can’t catch my breath. I was the only boy in our school what had asthma” (Golding 9). Piggy is different from the other boys in the island. His asthma makes him not fit in and the boys treat him cruelly because of it. Piggy is also a social outcast by his obesity, shortness, and spectacles. Golding describes Piggy as, “He was shorter than the fair boy and very fat he came forward, searching out safe lodgments for his feet, and then looked up through thick spectacles” (Golding 1). Piggy is plump, wears glasses, and is undersized, the boys use all these disadvantages to make fun of him and make him not fit in. They call him Piggy because of his overweightness, which he hates and feels sadden by. The portrayal of Piggy as obese, asthma, eyeglasses, and his shortness are to show those who are not will misuse people who do not fit in.
The characterization of Jack shows the need for power lead people to brutalization of others. Golding portrays Jack as an ascendancy hungry boy. Jack tells the boys, “I ought to be chief, said Jack with simple arrogance, because I’m chapter chorister and head boy. I can sing C sharp” (Golding 22). Jack shows that he is superiority hungry from the beginning. He wants domination of the boys and will do anything to get it. Jack also mistreats others to get leadership. Jack needing to make fire, “ he snatched the glasses off Piggy’s face” (Golding 40). Jack takes the glasses by force from Piggy. Piggy, who does not fit in, is furious by how Jack takes his glasses. Jack mistreats Piggy to obtain power, power being the fire. The impersonation of Jack wanting supremacy