preview

Savagery

Decent Essays

In William Goldings Lord of the Flies the boy’s human nature shifts into savagery without a civilization to keep them in order. The first character to start the slow descent into savagery is Ralph who because of his continual battle for power with Jack, uses violence to settle disputes, contributes to the killing of Simon, and emulates a wild animal to survive. Roger who rejects the idea of civilization from the start instills fear in younger tribe members, kills Piggy, and plans the brutal sacrifice of Ralph. Finally, Jack adapts a ruthless way of leading allowing an obsession with hunting as he segregates his tribe from civilization and leads the hunt for Ralph. The fall towards savagery of these three characters in a leadership role leads …show more content…

While arguing, “Ralph hit Jack in the stomach and made him grunt. Then they were facing each other panting and furious, but unnerved by each other’s ferocity.” Ralph losses sight of his own civility, causing him to drastically act out in savagery. Jack does not take the act of defiance lightly. Giving him yet another reason to have his tribe turn against Ralph. Next, Ralph again loses his civility in a moment of savagery thus contributing to the killing of Simon. Ralph who is leading his tribe into a better civilization turns into a savage with his group closely following his lead. They murder Simon, this being significant because he showed the most civility and was only trying to help when he approached the group of savages. Instead the, “memory of the dance that none of them attended shook all 4 boys convulsively.” All the boys in Ralph’s tribe deny their involvement because they can’t come to terms with what they did to one of their friends. Ralph may have stood on the outside and never stabbed Simon, but he also never attempts to stop the dance. As the leader he should have intervened. This act has a predominant effect on

Get Access