You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
Finally free from the shackles of civilization, Jack is only governed by the incessant presence of the id in his own mind. Jack appeared to merely be a strong-willed young boy when the plane first crashed on the island, but by the time the British navy arrives to rescue the boys Jack proves to be the epitome of savagery and violence viciously seeking to fulfill his own aspirations. For example, when electing a leader at the first meeting of all the boys, Jack states: “I ought to be chief…because I’m chapter chorister and head boy.” (Golding 22) Here Jack demonstrates his longing for power by pursuing a position of authority among the boys, yet he clearly has no concern for their well-being. Furthermore, when Jack is denied the position of power, he becomes increasingly obsessed with hunting pigs. For example, Jack suggests that the hunters wear dazzle paint, and he chants: “Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood!” (Golding 152) Jack blatantly ignores the rules of civilization, and pursues his selfish quest for power and totally disregards the well-being of the rest of the boys. In addition, Jack establishes his own tribe that is based upon savage rituals such as hunting…
- 810 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Jack turns more and more savage throughout the book, he eventually leaves the original tribe to make his own. Jack hosts a bonfire and things seem to be going well until the boys start getting wild and start to chant, “Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood!” (Golding 152). During the bonfire the boys lose control of themselves and become savage. The boys reenact a pig hunt when simon comes from the forest with news for the group, but the boys thought he was the beast and kill him brutally. Savagery takes control of the boys and eventually takes control of Jack’s mind. After the bonfire the hunters create a new group on top of Castle Rock and makes Jack their chief. Jack has been chief for one day and has already tied up a kid, when the hunters are asked about it the reply, “I don’t know...he’s been tied up for hours” (Golding 159). The hunters aren’t sure why the kid was tied up, but it seems like Jack is letting the savageness go to his head and take control. Later on Jack loses full control to the savagery by killing Piggy and almosts kills…
- 592 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Jack’s feelings toward the situation are in parallel to everyone else’s, but only due to the fact that he believes he will be elected chief. Infuriated with the decision of Ralph being the final decision, he becomes very happy when appointed leader of the hunters. This reveals Jack’s feelings about being in charge and his strive for leadership. With this, Golding shows Jack’s quick transformation as he ends up being appointed to the leader of the hunters. His decision later to go and hunt for a pig for the group in chapter 4 (69), demonstrates his fast need for the spill of blood in a less than innocent fashion compared to his previous ordinary lifestyle. Not only this, but his future endeavors result in a desperate attempt on Ralph’s life by setting the island on fire, demonstrating how far he was willing to go to achieve what he wanted (199). The group’s idea and attempt to be “civil” and “humane” are nowhere to be found by the end of the…
- 930 Words
- 4 Pages
Better Essays -
On the island, change wasn’t always a healthy thing. Ralph and Jack had changed drastically, from being civilized to being barbaric. Ralph seeks to institute a democratic society, and there was a fear on the island that drove everyone insane, which lead to disorganization. " Another thing we ought to have more rules.…
- 461 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Jack Merridew is a symbol for savagery. From the very beginning, he seems to harbor emotions of anger and savagery. At first, he is the leader of his choir group, who become hunters as the book progresses. Finally, his savage personality and ability to tell people what they want to hear, allows him to overtake Ralph as chief. The three points I will be talking about in this essay are Jack’s character, Jack’s symbolism, and the moral or lesson Golding is trying to teach us throughout the story.…
- 1189 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
To conclude, Jack spends nearly the whole book trying to get power over Ralph, and when he finally does, he uses it for evil instead of actually helping his tribe like he promised. Jack knows that he has to be leader and makes that goal happen for himself. Even if that means a little murder here and…
- 447 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
In 1954 William Golding wrote The Lord of the Flies, a book depicting a group of young boys surviving alone on a pacific island. The books shows the slow decline of the boy’s sanity and depicts the true evil lurking deep within man. Since its introduction the book has sparked many discussions about man’s true nature. I believe that humans are naturally evil because they discriminate against those different to them and people are ultimately selfish.…
- 635 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
In a civilized society, rules play an extreme part. In the novel, Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, Golding demonstrates how a civilized society with a series of kind and cruel leaders, and no rules, can slowly turn into a group of reckless, savage boys. Lord of the Flies explains how a group of boys with no rules can slowly turn into a disaster. Golding shares, that without rules cruelty takes place. Every human is not born perfect but they are kept under control by societies rules, as there are no rules on the island, they boys slowly turn into cruel savages.…
- 484 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
1. Jack shows that he is controlling and blood thirsty by wanting to be chief and bossing the choir boys around. Jack as a hunter is insecure in his desire to kill shown by the inability to kill a pig.…
- 1696 Words
- 7 Pages
Good Essays -
“How are Ralph, Winston and the imperfections in their characters used to contrast the corruption surrounding them?”…
- 1149 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
In chapter 1, Jack was the leader of choirboys, when he and Ralph found a wild pig. Jack steps in and draws his knife but hesitates “He raised his arm in the air. There came a pause, a hiatus, the pig continued to scream and the creepers to jerk, and the blade continued to flash at the end of a bony arm... Then the piglet tore loose from the creepers and scurried into the undergrowth.... Jack’s face was white under the freckles. He noticed that he still held the knife aloft and brought his arm down replacing the blade in the sheath.” Jack started as a little boy who simply had jealousy over power. He was hesitated to kill the pig due to the fact that he had never killed any living creature. In another way, Jack was scared of blood, scared of killing, but as the story continued to go on, the jealous boy has changed. Jack becomes more violent, savage, and he is no longer Jack but a bloodthirsty hunter “Then he raised his spear and sneaked forward. Beyond the creeper, the trail joined a pig-run that was wide enough and trodden enough to be a path... He swung back his right arm and hurled the spear with all his strength. From the pig-run came the quick, hard patter of hoofs, a castanet sound, seductive, maddening-the promise of meat…” (Golding 47). In this chapter, after the boys have spent quite a while on the island, Jack complete changed into a totally different person, now he has no hesitation when it comes to killing a pig, it was his natural behavior. He is skilled at taking any living creatures, no longer scared of blood, no longer scared of killing, the violence in him slowly…
- 939 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Responsibility is an expectation society places on you at some point in life. The Lord of the Flies written by William Golding, fully expresses this thought as a constant theme throughout the book. Multiple characters are faced with decisions of whether to do the “right” or responsible thing or to just run off and embrace the joys of having no real authority that proper society maintains. No true order can be maintained without some form of the older society that many of the children refuse to accept at necessary.…
- 694 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Responsibility is the quality or state of being in charge of someone or something. In order to have a functioning society, those of the community, must have responsibilities and achieve them. However, too often people lack certain traits or characteristics that withhold them from being successful and achieving tasks. In the novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding, the main characters will show how different personality traits and mindsets can set back or take away from achieving a duty. Ralph, one of the older boys who was born a leader, demonstrates that you must always stay sane or you will loose structure.…
- 1030 Words
- 5 Pages
Better Essays -
Jack and his tribe are hunting a wild boar in the forest, "The spear moved forward inch by inch and the terrified squealing became a high-pitched scream. Then Jack found the throat and the hot blood spouted over his hands. The sow collapsed under them" (135). He didn’t even think twice before slitting the pig's throat. Hunting has brought out the savage side of Jack which urges him to slaughter other living creatures. His sensitive emotions have temporarily flown out the window and his cruel personally has barged through the door. Jack has serious anger issues. He was upset with Wilfred without giving a solid reason as to why he was mad, “I don’t know. He didn’t say. He got angry and made us tie Wilfred up. He’s been-he giggled definitely-he’s been tied for hours, waiting.” (159). Now, even the slightest mistake will set off Jack. He is in control and if he says to have someone tied up or killed they will do it. Why? He is violent and intimidating and no one wants to question his authority. Jack is a stick of dynamite that is waiting to be lit. During the confrontation about Piggy’s glasses, “Jack made a rush and stabbed at Ralph's chest with his spear.” (177). Boy is this young child aggressive. Jack doesn’t even want to have a proper conversation with Raph. He wants to approach the situation with violence; long gone are those choir boy manners. What happened to the Jack who said they weren’t savages? His dominating and aggressive demeanor have gotten to his head, he has clearly gone power-mad. Jack is no longer a sweet and polite young man, he is fierce and…
- 1225 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
Many transformations changed Jack's behavior. He becomes obsesses with hunting, and killing pigs. He takes great pride in the fact that he killed a pig. "'I cut the pigs throat,' said Jack, proudly ... 'there were lashings of blood,' Said Jack, laughing and shuddering 'You should have seen it!" Jack also becomes less civilized when he becomes violent and hits Piggy for no justifiable reason. "He took a step, and able at last to hit someone, stuck his fist into Piggy's stomach ... Jack smacked Piggy's head. Piggy's glasses flew off and tinkled on the rocks." He also acts uncivilized when he shows disrespect to the person who is holding the conch. He constantly talks out of turn. Jack becomes less civilized because of his aggressive and violent behavior. Jack's painted face also symbolizes a breakdown in social and moral behavior. He becomes primitive in his social and moral behavior which affects everyone's behavior in a negative way. This is shown when everyone ranted, "Kill the pig, cut her throat, and spill her blood." Everyone was acting in a uncivilized way because of Jack's conduct.…
- 419 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays