Lord of the Flies
Character Notes
Ralph
• Physical Characteristics: “Fair hair” –blond, 12½ yrs
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old, strong shoulders, innocent and kind look, athletic
Personality: Protagonist, older, leader, struggles to
establish rational order, excited about the island
adventure, plot progresses through his eyes, his
psychological maturation is viewed throughout the
novel, maintains a conflict with Jack (antagonist)
throughout the book
Represents/Symbolizes: common sense, desire for
civilized life, represents the ways humans suppress
the evil within their nature, democracy
• Says:
“We need fire in order to be rescued!”
“My dad is in the Navy, he’ll save us!”
• Acts: as responsible as possible for a 12-year-old
• Feels about himself: doubts his ability as a leader
Jack Merridew
• Physical Characteristics: Approx. the same age
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as Ralph –maybe a little older, red hair, freckles,
skinny, light blue eyes, “ugly without silliness”
Personality: Ralph’s Antagonist, seems to harbor
emotions of anger & savagery, leader of the
choir group (i.e. hunters), bullying, bossy, mean,
manipulative & good with words, controlling
Symbolizes: Bestial/Savage instinct in mankind
Says: “We need meat!”
Feels about himself: Confident & craves being in
charge
Piggy
• Physical Characteristics: Close in age to Ralph & Jack,
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very short and overweight, wears glasses, has asthma,
cannot swim
Personality: nerdy, does not care to do strenuous work on
the island –asthma, raised by his “Auntie” because both
parents are not alive, he sees what the rest of the boys
cannot see, probably the smartest boy on the island, but
lacks any social skills & has trouble communicating or
fitting in with the others, tries very hard to cling to
civilization & keep peace. Piggy finds the conch and
befriends Ralph
Symbolizes:
Science & Intellectual insight
Rational thought
Desire for clear-sightedness & civilization
(represented by polishing his glasses
repeatedly)
Simon
• Physical Characteristics: younger than the three others
(Ralph, Jack, & Piggy), but older than the littluns, short,
small, skinny boy with straight dark hair, dark
complexion, faints often from the heat –epilepsy
• Personality: bashful, loner, helpful, caring, “innately goodhearted,” good & pure with a positive outlook, nature
lover, no fear of the dark jungle, shining hope, cares for
the littluns, sees beauty in the earth & its creatures
(sees flowers as “candlebuds”), often wanders off to his
“special space” –a tranquil spot in the jungle, seems to
meditate
• Symbolizes: acts as a character foil to Ralph & Jack,
embodies an innate, spiritual human goodness, deeply
connected with nature, morality, chaotic good
Roger
• Physical Characteristics: small, furtive,
stealthy boy with dirty & shaggy black
hair, gloomy face
• Personality: EVIL!, shows no mercy,
sadistic, becomes Jack’s right-hand man –
think Mafia “soldier,” Jack’s most loyal
helper, gladly carries out his orders, wrong
• Symbolizes: Epitome of all that is evil in the
human soul –chaotic evil
Samneric
• Physical Characteristics: twin brothers,
“bigguns,” bullet-headed, hair like tow,
chunky & vital, not enough skin –blurred
profiles & mouths pulled open (Golding
15)
• Personality: always travel and do
everything together, alone –are incapable
of much, allies/loyal to Ralph, treated as a
single entity –hence Samneric
• Symbolize: reliance & unity
The Littluns
• Characteristics: Approx. 5-6 years old, group of
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younger boys known collectively as “littluns”
Symbolize: society, the masses, common folk –
they follow the norm (whatever that may be)
Ralph & Simon –Protect the boys and use their
power to advance the good of the group
Jack & Roger –Treat the boys as objects for their
amusement and use their power to gratify their
own desires