Lord of the Flies: Power Essay

Analytical Essay: Power In the United States of America, the government follows the structure of a Democracy. Which means there is a president, a man who has a large say in whatever decisions are made. Once it’s time for a new man to take in the honor of being president, it is up to that person to decide how they want to use their newly granted power. In the novel, Lord of the Flies written by William Golding, the power shifts back and forth between Jack and Ralph multiple times. Just like every new president has their own unique ways of using their power, Jack and Ralph also have special ways of using the power they earn. Throughout the novel, Lord of the Flies written by William Golding, Golding develops the theme of power through Jack and Ralph’s different tactics with power, Ralph’s actions with power, and Jack’s commanding presence with power. As Ralph and Jack take charge in the book, they have similarities and differences with their tactics of using power. Early in the novel, Golding demonstrates their differences, “Ralph turned to him. ‘You’re no good on a job like this.’ ‘All the same-‘ ‘We don’t want you’ said Jack, flatly. ‘Three’s enough.’”(24, Golding). While Ralph and Jack both assert authority over Piggy, Ralph at least tries to explain his reasoning, whereas Jack brings personal insult to the matter. This could be Golding trying to shower the reader a mark of a good leader, in Ralph, and a bad leader, in Jack. In chapter one, the author writes “ ‘Jacks in charge of the choir. They can be-what do you want them to be?’ ‘Hunters’ Jack and Ralph smiled at each other with shy liking. The rest began to talk eagerly” (23, Golding). Ralph and Jack are made similar by their desire for power, but differ in their treatment of that power. Ralph is happy to use it towards the others liking, but Jack will later want it all for himself. In the beginning of the novel, Ralph declares that who ever is holding the conch shell will have the right to speak. Later,