Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Between Ralph and Jack, is there any indication about which character may be advancing more rapidly toward savagery than the others?

Ralph and Jack represent the protagonist-antagonist dynamic clearly in Lord of the Flies. Ralph is level-headed—until he becomes frustrated with Jack and his actions—and practical. Of the two, Jack is the closest to resembling the savagery of humans. He represents the instinctive persona, rather than the intellectual and pragmatic.
Jack creates a hunting party rather than focus on getting help, which becomes a point of contention with Ralph. The dynamic between the two boys also shows the competitive nature between so-called "alpha males." However, Ralph maintains his humane and logical characteristic, whereas Jack becomes a renegade.
When Ralph and Jack have a tense confrontation, there is an indication that the situation could have easily escalated into violence. This illustrates the tribal warfare that is present in all cultures. In the end, the progression towards complete savagery is only stunted by the arrival of the ship.

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