Painted Faces In William Golding's Lord Of The Flies

Throughout the novel, the face paint that Jack and his crew used simultaneously masks their faces as well as their civility. The first mention of the facepaint is made when Jack is strategizing a way to sneak up on a pig and he decides to camouflage himself. Jack says that his “half-concealed face” is “for hunting. Like in the war” (63). The incomplete coverage of the paint indicates that Jack is not fully immersed into his savagery. However, his interest in aggressive acts, hunting and war, insinuates that he does have a tendency towards aggressiveness as well. Perhaps the most blatant reference to the fact that face paint induces savagery within the boys, specifically the hunters, is when Golding states that “the mask compelled them” (64)

However, Ralph remained unyielding to his goal to be rescued and did not let these setbacks affect him. Eventually, Ralph’s determination leads to the rescue of the boys. One time that Ralph showed he was determined was after an airplane carrying a group of British boys crashed on an uninhabited island. Soon after, the

One of the strongest forms of adversity came in the form of a strong and outspoken boy Jack; Jack often overwhelms and disregards things that Ralph, the chief of the boys on the island, has said to be done. Ralph, we can see, struggles to hold his control over the group of boys when Jack refuses to believe the importance of these jobs. Ralph’s biggest struggle against adversity against Jack happens during a time of

Ralph stands at the crossroads of childhood and responsibility, where he must make decisions that go outside of his own comfort zone. Ralph makes the sacrifice of leaving his

Through Ralph being the leader on the island, it shows him as a morally ambiguous character struggling with man’s innate evil. Ralph is clearly struggling to maintain calm when he says, “‘I was chief, and you were going to do what I said. You talk. But you can’t even build huts--then you go off hunting and let out the fire--’” (Golding 70-71). Ralph talks about him being chief in the past tense as if he no longer is because from the ways the boys are acting, he does not feel that he is being respected. Ralph is annoyed that instead of building shelter the boys play in the water and that instead of manning the fire, the only chance for the boys to be noticed, they decide hunting is more important than being rescued. Ralph means well by these orders, he wants to see that every boy on the island survives. At the same time he is struggling to be calm and he is not doing a good job at it. Also as the leader Ralph is not the one

How can we ever be rescued except by luck, if we don't keep a fire going?". Also, another motivation that he has is living a life of civilized survival on this foreign island. In chapter 3, page 64, he says,"We need shelters". Also, another example, is that in chapter 5, page 107, Ralph states that if anyone has to go to the bathroom, that they use "those rocks right along beyond the bathing pool as lavatory...sensible...tide cleans the place up." This shows me that Ralph is utilizing his authority to try to make logical and sensible decisions in order to try to benefit the group as a whole. Ralph is not only concerned about the well-being of himself, but also about the welfare of his fellow "subjects". He tries to be firm and pushes them to try to construct shelters to live in, basic food and water to find, as well as the act of working together. Ralph is also motivated by his father, who happens to be a naval officer. In the story, Ralph says positive things as he remebers his dad, such as "...father's in the Navy...are'nt any unknown islands left...got a picture of this island... ", which leads the boys to feel "...cheerfulness and better heart...", on chapter 2, page 45. The way he speaks about

Through Ralph it shows that he is the most powerful boy on the island, despite his size. Ralph doesn't want to be in control of all the people, he just wants to find a way of the island. He is determined to create rules and follow them, and prioritizes the groups needs above his own selfish desires. For example, he builds the huts even though it isn't fun, compared to the boys who go off to play whenever instead of doing important tasks that aren't fun. Ralph symbolizes law, government and a civil society.

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

Ralph was the protagonist in this novel. The book starts out with him, and therefore the readers know him best. Ralph stayed the sanest out of the group of boys, but he did lose it in the end of the book when Jack and the hunters are hunting him. Ralph was the one who tried to keep all the boys in check, and was the first to realize that they need to have set rules in order to survive, and get off the island. ”If I blow the conch and they don't come back; then we've had it. We

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

Ralph, the protagonist and the ‘leader’ of the novel, has always tried to keep the peace on the island, but when heinous act are committed it is hard not to just follow the instincts and ways of others. At the beginning of the novel, a conflict quickly arises, when the stranded boys have to make a decision on ‘who will be the chief?’. This is between Ralph, and the choir boy leader,

Ralph tries to keep a sense of decency and hope despite the difficulties he encounters, such as the shortage of resources on the island and the growing tension among the lads. He also stays devoted to his values. He puts in a lot of effort, for instance, to maintain the signal fire burning, which represents the boys' desire for rescue. In the shadows, or in this case, in the face of misfortune, Ralph's actual nature comes to light. His genuine nature is revealed by his dedication to his morals and his willingness to always do the right thing, even in the face of difficulty.

At the same time, Ralph’s fear of being isolated on the island was rapidly developed especially when his negative personality started to emerge. However, Ralph was introduced as a kind boy whose respectful character

Ralph showed courage when it came to being open minded and optimistic about surviving and being rescued. “I’m chief. I’ll go. Don’t argue” (104). This shows that when they reach an area of the island that they have not been to yet that as a leader, Ralph has to set a good example for the boys on the island, and in doing so may have to face many tough and challenging obstacles and problems alone. This is why he has to show courage in front of the kids to complete the obstacles. “Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of a man’s heart, and the fall through the air of a true, wise friend called Piggy” (202). This quote concludes the novel and displays how Ralph accomplished his goal of being

Ralph is the main protagonist in the story and he is the leader of the children on the island. Since Ralph was voted leader, he has the characteristics of leadership and he brings civilization and order to the story. Unlike the other boys, Jack and Simon, Ralph’s main focus is to get off the island instead of having fun. For example, Ralph tried constructing huts with Simon; meanwhile, the boys are playing and running off having fun. In the beginning of the story, Ralph’s power with the children was secure; however, towards the end, that power is being transferred to Jack. Ralph represents the