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Lord of the Flies Essay/ Character Comparison Ralph vs Jack

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The novel " Lord of the Flies" focuses on the conflict that exists between two competing impulses that Golding, suggests exist within all humans; these being the instinct to follow the rules, act in a peaceful manner and comply to moral commands compared to the instinct to act violently in order to gain control over others and to satisfy our own greed and personal desires. The conflict exists within the novel in several forms; law and order vs. anarchy, civilization vs. savagery and the basic term of good vs. evil. Golding uses these themes consistently throughout the novel, clearly associating instinctive savagery with evil and the instinct of civilisation with good. The representation of this lies in Ralph and Jack, the two central …show more content…

The contrast in opinions between the two characters can again be seen when Ralph, in the midst of the hunters joy, attempts to address the lingering issues within the group and to re-instate a sense of justice and civilisation. "I'm calling an assembly"
He proceeds to the platform and simply blows the conch. As the conch is probably the central symbol of the civilised world, Ralph's action of blowing upon it in an attempt to restore order shows us that unlike Jack, he is intent on grasping on to civilisation along with the peace and order in all of their lives previously. Golding explains the two individual sides; "There was the brilliant world of hunting, tactics, fierce exhilaration, skill, and there was the world of longing and baffled common sense." Chapter five focuses on the emergency meeting Ralph has called. He had hoped that he would address all the points orderly and regain control of the group. However, discussion breaks down once the other boys begin to talk of the ‘beast‘; this is something that has grown out of proportion after one of the little'uns saw the dead pilot on the beach and mistook his body for something alive

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