Lord of the Flies (critical)
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
Ralph's character changes and develops in awareness and understanding
throughout the course of the novel...but how?
This novel was based around the idea that without rules, regulations and the security of knowing that there's always someone near to help, we will let go of our inhibitions, and sometimes our sanity, and do anything we deem necessary to survive. This was the situation in which Ralph and Piggy, along with many other young boys, found themselves after crashing on a deserted island in the middle of a world war. Being left without adults and rules results in many terrible problems. The idea of being able to do as the boys pleased and having no one to tell them what to do, or say, was a thrilling experience. They believed that having no rules would make life easier and that, even with the leadership of Ralph freedom was theirs.
Throughout the novel Ralph's character develops from child, to leader and back to scared child, but certain factors makes his character change in leaps and bounds. One of these events was the bond made between Jack, the chapter chorister and himself, which soon turns into conflict between them. For example though Ralph and the other boys had made Piggy the figure of fun Ralph realises that Piggy is a better and trust worthier friend. This effects and changes Ralph as he starts to see that not everything is going to be as exciting and fun without rules and adults as he first thought, as Jack's arrogance and desire for leadership becomes a major problem for all the boys.
The need for rescue is also a turning point in Ralph's development and it is where we first see that he wants to get to civilisation, and we understand his fear of not being rescued. We also see the immaturity of the boys. Ralph realises that the only hope of rescue was a signal from the highest point of the island .The signal he chooses is one of the only ones available to him, fire, but as with all schemes there are problems. The fire goes out of control and Ralph and the boys are unsure of how to deal with the dilemma. The fire is soon under control, but it leads to the first death. Ralph matures at this point
"Smoke was rising here and there among the creepers that festooned the dead or dying trees"
and he comments sarcastically ".......You got your small fire all right"
He knows that a small fire is needed for any chance of rescue, but is not sure how the boys will deal with it as he can now see how their irresponsibility is affecting them.
The boy's belief in the beast seen by the littleun's is another sign of their childishness. Ralph doesn't believe in the beast's existence and tells the boys,
"Be frightened because you're like that - but there is no beast in the forest."
But Jack in opposition tells the boy's that,
"if there is a beast...we'll hunt it and kill it."
This is just one example of many such disagreements and the groups split and rivalries begin to grow between Ralph and Jack, but throughout the novel the main disagreement is rules, Jack believes that they don't want or need rules, but Ralph believes they do,
"Which is better - to have rules and agree, or to hunt and kill...law and rescue or hunting and breaking things up."
Ralph is intimidated by Jack's violent actions and the way he chooses to deal with situations such as the violent slaughter and removal of a pig's head (the lord of the flies) as an offering to the beast, with whom Simon, the outcast and who is at one with nature, has an affinity. Simon's later discovery of the dead parachutist (the beast) results in his violent murder by all the boys. Unlike the other boys Ralph freely admits that he is responsible also for Simon's murder and by this Ralph shows that he is beginning to understand the insanity and the power they all have. He realises that the savageness of mankind is beginning to show.
After Simon's murder the breakdown of sanity grows and Ralph is definite that the boys need to get off the island, but riots caused by Jack and the hunters become more violent and petty, for example with the theft of Piggy's glasses for fire. Ralph confronts Jack, but is met with more abuse and violence, which turns to the second murder: Piggy's. This confirms Ralph's feeling that everything has got out of hand.
In the end of the novel Ralph is chased through the forest and, only escaping death thanks to Sam'nEric, on to the beach, where he breaks down at the feet of a Naval Officer. At this point we realise in full that these are just children. However although Ralph is still "a child", we can see that his whole attitude to life has changed. He now understands why we need rules and that friendship is one of the most important things in life. He also realises the evil to which man can sink,
"Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man's heart, and the fall through the air of a true, wise friend called Piggy."
throughout the course of the novel...but how?
This novel was based around the idea that without rules, regulations and the security of knowing that there's always someone near to help, we will let go of our inhibitions, and sometimes our sanity, and do anything we deem necessary to survive. This was the situation in which Ralph and Piggy, along with many other young boys, found themselves after crashing on a deserted island in the middle of a world war. Being left without adults and rules results in many terrible problems. The idea of being able to do as the boys pleased and having no one to tell them what to do, or say, was a thrilling experience. They believed that having no rules would make life easier and that, even with the leadership of Ralph freedom was theirs.
Throughout the novel Ralph's character develops from child, to leader and back to scared child, but certain factors makes his character change in leaps and bounds. One of these events was the bond made between Jack, the chapter chorister and himself, which soon turns into conflict between them. For example though Ralph and the other boys had made Piggy the figure of fun Ralph realises that Piggy is a better and trust worthier friend. This effects and changes Ralph as he starts to see that not everything is going to be as exciting and fun without rules and adults as he first thought, as Jack's arrogance and desire for leadership becomes a major problem for all the boys.
The need for rescue is also a turning point in Ralph's development and it is where we first see that he wants to get to civilisation, and we understand his fear of not being rescued. We also see the immaturity of the boys. Ralph realises that the only hope of rescue was a signal from the highest point of the island .The signal he chooses is one of the only ones available to him, fire, but as with all schemes there are problems. The fire goes out of control and Ralph and the boys are unsure of how to deal with the dilemma. The fire is soon under control, but it leads to the first death. Ralph matures at this point
"Smoke was rising here and there among the creepers that festooned the dead or dying trees"
and he comments sarcastically ".......You got your small fire all right"
He knows that a small fire is needed for any chance of rescue, but is not sure how the boys will deal with it as he can now see how their irresponsibility is affecting them.
The boy's belief in the beast seen by the littleun's is another sign of their childishness. Ralph doesn't believe in the beast's existence and tells the boys,
"Be frightened because you're like that - but there is no beast in the forest."
But Jack in opposition tells the boy's that,
"if there is a beast...we'll hunt it and kill it."
This is just one example of many such disagreements and the groups split and rivalries begin to grow between Ralph and Jack, but throughout the novel the main disagreement is rules, Jack believes that they don't want or need rules, but Ralph believes they do,
"Which is better - to have rules and agree, or to hunt and kill...law and rescue or hunting and breaking things up."
Ralph is intimidated by Jack's violent actions and the way he chooses to deal with situations such as the violent slaughter and removal of a pig's head (the lord of the flies) as an offering to the beast, with whom Simon, the outcast and who is at one with nature, has an affinity. Simon's later discovery of the dead parachutist (the beast) results in his violent murder by all the boys. Unlike the other boys Ralph freely admits that he is responsible also for Simon's murder and by this Ralph shows that he is beginning to understand the insanity and the power they all have. He realises that the savageness of mankind is beginning to show.
After Simon's murder the breakdown of sanity grows and Ralph is definite that the boys need to get off the island, but riots caused by Jack and the hunters become more violent and petty, for example with the theft of Piggy's glasses for fire. Ralph confronts Jack, but is met with more abuse and violence, which turns to the second murder: Piggy's. This confirms Ralph's feeling that everything has got out of hand.
In the end of the novel Ralph is chased through the forest and, only escaping death thanks to Sam'nEric, on to the beach, where he breaks down at the feet of a Naval Officer. At this point we realise in full that these are just children. However although Ralph is still "a child", we can see that his whole attitude to life has changed. He now understands why we need rules and that friendship is one of the most important things in life. He also realises the evil to which man can sink,
"Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man's heart, and the fall through the air of a true, wise friend called Piggy."
