Democracy In Lord Of The Flies

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The Lord of the Flies by William Golding is an allegory for society, more specifically a glimpse of different governmental structures and their unique characteristic. The main characters showcase these different types of leadership therefore fully examining them will create a solid reinforcement of how eventually a government can become misguided. This essay will deconstruct Ralph as a passionate democratic politician and Jack as an eventual totalitarian figurehead. Deconstructing these to characters their roles, systems, and beliefs on the island will clarify how this allegoric novel displays how week and misguided a society can become. It will also reinforce the display of evil a society is capable of. Ralph, in this case is what democracy…show more content…
They were relieved from duty at the fire and had come down for a swim,” also chapter 5 “The fire is the most important thing on the island. How can we ever be rescued except by luck, if we don't keep a fire going? Is a fire too much for us to make?” (Golding, 60, 80) The fire is mentioned more than one hundred times throughout the novel, it is mostly referred by Ralph as the most important activity the islanders need to concern themselves with. Ralph showcases his leadership but mostly emphasizes the election and the rules “the rules are the only thing we've got!” (Golding, 91) Until the end Ralph is the only one that does not give in to savagery, he is the one that keeps his composure and understands the rules are the most important order in the island. Compared to Jack, Ralph is the proper example of a democracy, formed of a consensus by the people, reinforced by an important object in this case the conch, and objectively looking out for the well being of the whole…show more content…
His obsession with hunting and providing meat for the islanders consumes his every decision. He is made form narcissistic passion driving at sole dominion and forceful control. Comparing him to a totalitarian regimen is accurate, mostly due to his thirst for power as it is clearly visible throughout the novel. For example, when there is fear of the beast throughout the novel Jack has only one response, killing the beast, “Bollocks to the rules! We're strong--we hunt! If there's a beast, we'll hunt it down!” (Golding, 91) But the most important distinguishing factor in Jack’s case is his solution through death, especially when it comes to Piggy and hunting Ralph down, the climax of the novel, “Piggy's arms and legs twitched a bit, like a pig's after it has been killed. Then the sea breathed again in a long, slow sigh, the water boiled white and pink over the rock; and when it went, sucking back again, the body of Piggy was gone. This time the silence was complete. Ralph's lips formed a word but no sound came. Suddenly Jack bounded out from the tribe and began screaming wildly. "See? See? That's what you'll get! I meant that! There isn't a tribe for you any more! The conch is gone--" He ran forward, stooping. "I'm chief!" (Golding,
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