Which pair do you find more interesting, Ralph and Piggy or Jack and Roger Essay Example
Throughout Lord of the Flies, the characters Piggy, Jack, Roger, and Ralph display distinct traits and their relationships with each other become more intricate as the story develops.
In this essay, I will explore the development of Piggy and Ralph's relationship as well as that of Jack and Roger's. I will also provide my opinion on which couple I find more interesting and explain why. To begin, I will delve into Jack and Roger's relationship. Although they do not interact as frequently as Piggy and Ralph, they share similar evil and violent traits that set them apart from the other boys on the island. An example of Jack's sinister behavior can be found on the last page of the first chapter where he aggressively stabs a tree with his knife while declaring "next time -!". Similarly, Roger's dark demeanor is shown e
...arly on when he is described as a sly and secretive individual.
Within the book, the author notes a specific reference to a previous work on the topic located on page 29.
The initial conversation between Jack and Roger occurs in chapter four when Jack summons Roger to explain the concept of 'dazzle paint' while Roger throws stones at Henry. In chapter seven, they reunite with Ralph to ascend the mountain in search of the 'beastie'. Although their communication is minimal, they share a laugh when Roger compares the appearance of the deceased airman to that of a frog. The two cross paths again in chapter eight, participating in the slaughter of the sow in close proximity to Simon's sacred location.
This section of the book is particularly cruel and savage, as the boys collaborate to kill
a sow and take pleasure in the act. Later on, Roger refers to Jack as the chief and asks him for advice on starting a fire. Jack suggests stealing fire from Ralph's tribe and designs a plan in which Roger plays a significant role. Although Jack may have developed a bond with Roger due to shared experiences, he still maintains his authority and avoids treating anyone as an equal.
In chapter ten, Roger admires Jack's leadership: "he's a proper chief isn't he?" (p. 196) and ponders the potential for "irresponsible authority." (p. 197) However, in chapter eleven, after killing Piggy, Roger descends from the rock and encounters SamnEric; evidently, he has abandoned all morality and become exceedingly savage. When Jack asks why he isn't keeping watch, at the close of the chapter it notes how Roger "edged past the chief."The text refers to an unidentified entity.
According to page 224, while not often depicted together in the novel, the relationship between Roger and Jack remains intriguing. As the constraints of civilization no longer hold them back, both become increasingly violent. Their similarities are evident. Ultimately, Roger surpasses Jack in malevolence, but it is Jack who inspires him to abandon societal rules and regulations.
Throughout the novel, Piggy and Ralph share a bond until Piggy's untimely murder. Despite their close relationship, these two characters are vastly different as evidenced in the first chapter. Piggy, who is overweight, wears glasses, suffers from asthma, and speaks in a manner suggesting that he comes from the working class, is referred to as "the fat boy" early on and isn't identified by name until later.
Even though the boys do not
express any interest in knowing what it is, the fact remains that he possesses intelligence. This can be seen when he and Ralph stumble upon the conch, as he mentions that they could use it to summon their companions (p. 2). However, the other boys fail to acknowledge his intellect, as his unfavorable qualities overshadow his positive ones.
Although Ralph gets credit for the ideas, he is not the real mastermind behind them, as he relies on another person for inspiration. Ralph is physically fit and potentially has the ability to become a boxer (as noted on page 15), and comes from a wealthy background as his father is a naval commander (as mentioned on page 19). However, Ralph's maturity is questionable, as exemplified by his childish behavior of pretending to be a fighter plane after hearing Piggy reveal his name.
"...machine gunned Piggy" (p.16) indicates that the reason for their presence on the island is war, which Ralph doesn't fully comprehend and views as a game.
At the start of the book, Ralph does not have any concern for Piggy. He ignores him when exploring and does not ask for his name. Piggy is hurt when Ralph tells the other boys his name, and Ralph does not feel sorry. Ralph's response to Piggy's distress is "Better Piggy than fatty"(p.33).
During chapter seven, Ralph acknowledges the importance of Piggy's inclusion and sends Simon to inform Piggy that they will return after dark while searching for the beast. This action exemplifies Ralph's growing appreciation for Piggy and the significance of his participation. "Someone's got to go across the island and tell Piggy we'll be back after dark." (p.)
At the
end of the book, Piggy and Ralph become closer and are only accompanied by SamnEric. During chapter eleven, when they visit Jack to retrieve Piggy's glasses, Ralph has to guide Piggy as his sight is impaired. This demonstrates the trust Piggy has in Ralph, and Ralph entrusts Piggy with carrying the conch by handing it over to him, stating 'he held out the conch to Piggy' (p. 211).
The conch was once a symbol of power, and for Ralph's group, it still holds this significance. Ralph shows his trust in Piggy by allowing him to carry the conch, indicating that he accepts him. However, on the final page of the text, Ralph weeps for the loss of innocence, the darkness within man's heart, and the death of his true and wise friend, Piggy (p. 248). Through this experience, Ralph comes to realize that Piggy was a loyal companion who stood by him until his untimely demise. It is only after losing Piggy that Ralph truly appreciates his worth as a friend.
When it comes to characters in the book, I find Piggy and Ralph more appealing than Roger and Jack due to their gradual development, which positively impacted their bond. As their journey progressed, we witnessed their evolution in great detail. Also, Piggy and Ralph had a certain charm and intrigue that surpassed that of Jack and Roger. While Piggy maintained his consistent nature throughout the novel, it was Ralph who experienced a significant shift in his perception of Piggy, ultimately realizing his true worth and loyalty as a friend despite his outer appearance.
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