William Golding's Lord of the Flies is a novel about a group of boys who are lost on a deserted island and must do what they can to survive. At the beginning of the novel, two of the boys, Ralph and Jack, become leaders. These differences will form the main conflict in the story. The differences will cause them to hate each other and the anger that results is a recurring part of the plot throughout the novel. These two boys can be compared by the way they change, the reason for their actions, and the way they use or abuse power. Both of the boys change a lot during their stay on the island. Ralph begins the novel as a leader and role model to the other boys. But eventually, the group gives in to savage instincts and Ralph's position …show more content…

He can hold it when he's speaking" (31). Jack represents totalitarianism and is a little dictator of his tribe, who shows no respect for the conch and what it represents and the rules: ‘"Bollocks to the rules," (114). He works his tribe into frenzy with a lust for killing, much like Hitler did with his German followers. He has no regard for anybody but himself. Throughout the novel, there was a great battle of wills between Ralph and Jack culminating in Jack and his tribe hunting down and smoking Ralph out of the forest, which ultimately led to their rescue. At this point, democracy in the shape of Ralph seemed to prevail over totalitarianism in the shape of Jack who faded into the shadows. Overall, Ralph and Jack were very different characters. Ralph began the book as a hopeful leader with high ideals and in the end was feeling hunted and squashed by dictatorship and anarchy. He was motivated by the hope of rescue and was more of a democratic leader. Jack began the book as a choirboy and ended up taking Ralph's place as leader. He was motivated by hunting and killing and led a dictatorship. These differences were the main cause for the conflict that ensued between them.

Bibliography Golding, William, Lord of the Flies, 1954, Faber & Faber,