Monday, January 23, 2017

What are the similarities between Ralph and Jack's style of leadership in Lord of the Flies by William Golding?

Both boys are very charismatic and use their charisma to persuade others to follow them. The key difference of course is that Ralph uses his charisma for good, whereas Jack abuses his natural gift, using it to establish dictatorial control over the other boys. There's also something very practical about the two rival leaders. After he's indulged in a spot of fun like all of the other boys on the island, Ralph quickly gets down to business, organizing all of the things that need to be done, pulling up his sleeves and getting his hands dirty to set an example.
For his part, Jack understands the importance of establishing a regular food supply, which means going off to hunt pigs at every opportunity. Jack's practicality is tinged with self-interest; he doesn't hunt pigs out of the goodness of his heart to provide food for the other boys. Leading the brutal pig hunts gives him the power and control he so desperately craves.


Both Ralph and Jack choose to lead by example, and they both aggressively stand up to challenges in front of their group members in order to elevate their status as leaders. Also, Ralph and Jack both demand a lot from the members of their tribes. Ralph insists on maintaining a signal fire, building shelters, collecting water, and following the rules. Jack also insists that his tribe hunt pigs and follow his directives without questioning him. Both boys get upset when their members do not follow their instructions. Ralph and Jack also share a misunderstanding of how to lead a group of young boys properly. Ralph does not make individuals accountable for their actions. Jack uses fear to control his tribe. Although Ralph and Jack have drastically different agendas, they both wish to be respected leaders and have high expectations for the members of their tribes.

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