Lord of the Flies Narrative Essay Example

also influenced by Piggy and Ralph's lack of self-defense. Despite his physical shortcomings, Piggy possesses intelligence. Ralph, a twelve-year-old elected leader, is handsome and athletic.

Ralph exemplifies physical well-being and a democratic leader, being sensible and self-confident. Nevertheless, the weight of leadership takes its toll on him, causing disillusionment. Ralph's charm draws people towards him, emphasizing society's inclination to favor those who are attractive. The conch is consistently linked with Ralph throughout the book, representing law and order. His authority over the conch grants him the role of group leader, distinguishing him from his peers.

Using the conch, he holds meetings and establishes rules such as providing water, designating bathrooms, building shelters, and maintaining the signal fire. Coming from a military background, Ralph brings hope and promotes democracy. He symbolizes this hope by assuring the boys that rescue is coming soon and by keeping a fire on the mountain to signal their presence on the island. When they learn about a supposed monster, Ralph assures them that there is no real danger and that they are safe.

Ralph's main concern is survival until they are rescued, but he encounters difficulties with Jack, who opposes his plan. Ralph strives to remain true to himself and keeps the signal fire burning. This emphasizes the use of physical appearance as a means of obtaining power in the narrative. The story depicts masculinity, embodied by Jack Merridew, as a method for acquiring power. Jack desires attention and will go to any lengths necessary to obtain it, including exploiting the vulnerabilities of the other boys.

Jack's masculinity-fueled violent behavior influences the group to conform to his

expectations, resulting in their disagreements with Ralph and a focus on what Jack deems important: killing the pig. Jack considers himself superior to the rest of the group, particularly Piggy, whom he ridicules for his physical appearance and mental prowess. In order to gain followers, Jack appeals to their desire for safety and survival. As evidence of his capabilities, Jack provides a feast by slaughtering the pig.

By taking Piggy's glasses to make fire, Jack obtains a source of warmth and a means of cooking. These acquired necessities stem from acts of violence and are supported by his own physical well-being. While he achieves his intended goal, there are also repercussions; Piggy is killed in an attempt to reclaim his glasses. Following Piggy's demise, Jack's ego overpowers his humanity and compels him to target Ralph in order to establish complete dominance. This exemplifies Jack's utilization of masculinity and fear as strategic methods for attaining power over others.

The depiction of masculinity in Lord of the Flies revolves around physicality and the pursuit of power within the group. Jack establishes his dominance by causing harm to Piggy, which intimidates the others. He challenges Ralph's authority in order to establish himself as a superior leader. His aggressive approach towards hunting serves as a demonstration of masculinity. Jack uses fear as a means to gain power, specifically targeting Piggy due to his weight and usefulness to Ralph. Additionally, he manipulates the group members' desire for survival by using the pig to create division among them. Society constructs masculinity as a manifestation of physical strength.