Power In Lord Of The Flies Quote Analysis

Having power means having the ability to influence people’s behavior. Whenever someone thinks of power, they most often think of leaders who are able to impact people and events by simply using words. This kind of power is not something everyone can obtain, and if in the wrong hands it could potentially be dangerous. Likewise, in Lord of the Flies by William Golding, power plays a major role in the fictional novel. Interestingly, most of the power in the story is in a magnificent, white conch shell and an atrocious severed sow’s head. Things as simple as inanimate objects are able to wield power over the boys by inducing fear, hope, and superiority. In a clearing in the middle of the forest on the island where the boys are stranded lies
In the beginning of Golding’s novel, the boys decide to make a few rules, and some involve the conch, “‘I'll give the conch to the next person to speak. He can hold it when he's speaking’” (33). This is one way that Ralph is going to attempt to keep order within the group of boys during meetings. Also, the quote implies that Ralph is going to be the person to always have the conch because he is the leader. It is like he has all of the power since he is chief. Whenever a boy holds the conch during assemblies it means that that boy has supremacy over the others because he is able to voice his own thoughts and opinions to everyone; he is the only one allowed to speak at that moment. Words are powerful, and giving a boy the chance to speak gives them the power to influence the entire group. Nevertheless, Ralph will still have the most power in the group. Therefore, “By the time Ralph finished blowing the conch the platform was crowded" (32). Whenever he uses the conch to call a meeting all of the boys stop what they are doing and head over to the platform immediately. The boys pay attention to whatever Ralph says because he posses the conch. Ralph has the power to order the boys around because the conch makes him