A Struggle for Power (Lord of the Flies) Essay - 807 Words

A Struggle for Power William Golding’s Lord of the Flies presents a story of a group of boys who become stranded on an island together, and in their struggle to survive; some begin to fight for power. Having power makes them feel in control of their situation; however, this power struggle quickly begins to consume them. Golding uses the power struggle between Ralph and Jack, the two main characters, to illustrate the power struggle between good and evil. Ralph and Jack both have very different opinions about the conch. By showing these opinions, they illustrate the struggle between good and evil. From the very beginning, a conch is used to summon the boys and it quickly becomes clear that the conch symbolizes the constraints of†¦show more content†¦He even goes on to imply that killing is more important than being rescued when he says: â€Å"all the same, I’d like to catch a pig first,† while Ralph notices â€Å"a mad look†¦ [in] his eyes.† J ack and his followers fall so deep into the darkness that they murder an innocent boy: Simon. As the boys chant, â€Å"Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood,’ Jack leads them on to kill â€Å"the beast† which is actually Simon. The next day Jack goes on to beat another child and shows no remorse for anything that he has done. That is when it is apparent to readers that he has officially lost all humanity and is completely savage. Golding is showing that anyone, even a young child, if pushed far enough, can give in to that evil inside them. Everyone has a choice, but some seem to give in a little easier than others. Society has order and rules. These rules are what tame the â€Å"beast† in all people. The rules confine us. Without them, we are capable of much evil. Golding uses Ralph to show this desire to be good. Ralph clings to anything symbolizing order, while Jack runs from it. When things start to go sour on the island, Ralph thinks aloud saying , â€Å"†¦the rules are the only thing we’ve got.† He longs for that â€Å"good† which he associates with civilization. Jack responds by saying, â€Å"bollocks to the rules!† He is enjoying the freedom from civilization and rules. His inner evil has taken overShow MoreRelatedLord Of The Flies And The Tempest1303 Words   |  6 PagesExplore the struggle/desire/theme of power and how it is presented in ‘Lord of the Flies’ and ‘The Tempest’. In the novel ‘Lord of the Flies’ by William Golding and ‘The Tempest’ by William Shakespeare, power is a main theme throughout both texts. Both represent microcosm of outer society at the time the text was written. 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