Introduction
1. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
2. Thesis Statement - Golding represents the more civilized side of humans and society through
Ralph who uses rationality to solve problems, while also representing caveman style savagery
through Jack who is slowly devolving everyday.
Body Paragraph 1
1. Ralph understands that there are no adults and they are on their own. He’s smart and his thought
process is logical, because of this the group appoints him as the leader.
2. “We can use this to call others. Have a meeting. They’ll come when they hear us---” pg. 10.
3. Ralph wants to leave the island and get home. He starts organizing and formulating a plan
immediately on how to get attention from somebody while on this deserted island.
4. “We’re on an island. We’ve been on a mountain top and seen water all around. We saw no
houses, no smoke, no footprints, no boats, no people. We’re on an uninhabited island with no
other people on it.” pg 24.
5. Ralph analyzes the situation and see’s that they are in quite a pickle, he seems the most mature
and composed during this and the other kids see this yet Jack still questions his leadership.
Body Paragraph 2
1. Jack is arguing what he and his merry gang of hunters think is best for the group, questioning
Ralph’s leadership and his ability to support everyone.
2. “So this is a meeting to find out what’s what. I’ll tell you what’s what. You littluns started all this,
with the fear talk. Beasts! --- (very long quote) pg 71.
3. It seems as if Jack is the type of person to try and place the blame on anyone or anything other
than him or people he vouches for. All throughout the book his behavior becomes more erratic
and hostile.
4. “Jack began to dance and his laughter became a bloodthirsty snarling” pg. 57
5. Jack is slowly turning into a wild animal, No rules, no adults, he’s let this primitive urge
overcome him. In the beginning he says the group needs “meat” but as you get further into the
book, he isn’t just hunting for survival. He’s hunting for the thrill of killing.
Body Paragraph 3
1. Jack had brainwashed a group of children, and in return they brutally murdered another kid on the
island.
2. “The tears began to flow and sobs shook him. He gave himself up to them now for the first time
on the island; great, shuddering spasms of grief that seemed to wrench his whole body. His voice
rose under the black smoke before the burning wreckage of the island; and infected by that
emotion, the other little boys began to shake and sob too. And in the middle of them, with filthy
body, matted hair, and unwiped nose, Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s
heart, and the fall through the air of the true, wise friend called Piggy.” pg 248.
3. Roger had made a boulder fall that kills Piggy. This would not have happened if the kids and
littluns had followed Ralph.
Conclusion
1. Ralph represents civilized rationality while the hunters and Jack represent wild savages who put
no thought into anything.
2. There’s people who think things through and weigh their options before coming to a decision and
then there are people who just jump on something and get started immediately without thinking.