Lord of the flies: jack character analysis (unfinished)

Jack:

• boy who easily blushes out of mortification >> quick temper

• “Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood”

• “Jack hid behind the mask, liberated from shame”

• “We want meat”

• “******** to the rules”

• >> dictatorship- allegory

May 2020

13. How far does Golding present Jack as a character who changes in Lord of the flies?

In lord of the flies, written by William Golding in 1954, Jack, a key tool in the novel is utilised to raise ideas about the theme of civilisation and savagery, moreover the innate desires in humans as seen through his character development throughout the novel.

At the beginning of the novel, we are already introduced with the strong-minded, quite arrogant character, who says “why should i be jack? I’m Merridew.” . The choir boy leader is sophisticated, rapidly bringing irony to the readers as he embodies the arrogance of supposedly England when it comes to status.

As the novel progresses, the readers are increasingly wary of Ralph as a foil to Jack and how they have completely different ambitions and goals in mind after being stranded on an island. Both allegorical symbols clash when they argue between the need for shelters and want for meat. Ralph, an allegorical symbol of democracy, thinks for the everyone of the island…