Question: Show how conflicts were important to the texts as a whole.
In the novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding the author creates various conflicts in his novel that were central and important to the text. Conflict exists between the contrasting representation of the symbols of the two tribes the boys form, the conch and the pig’s head on a stick, and conflict also exist internally within man. However, undoubtedly, the main conflict that exists within this novel is the conflict that exists between the democratic protagonist, Ralph, and the brutal and savage antagonist, Jack.
Throughout the novel Ralph and Jack are at odds to the extent that even their personalities conflict with each other. Ralph is the symbol of civilisation and democracy on the island; he was elected leader through the democratic process of voting. He always looks to please the majority, do things in a constructive way to benefit the whole group. We never see in him the temptation to gratify one’s immediate desires as in Jack. Jack, on the other hand, is the primary representative of anarchy and autocracy. He immediately shows us his savagery, as forgets the values of democracy, and pronounces that “I should be chief, I’m chapter chorister and head boy…” Jack savagery is more prominent through the fact that he looks to only gratify his immediate desires to hunt and that he forgoes the societal value of looking for the good of the majority. Naturally Jack’s autocracy leads to a conflict with Ralph’s democracy, ““The two boys faced each other and their battle is a catalyst for savagery on the island. There was the brilliant world of hunting, tactics, fierce exhilaration, skill; and there was the world of long and baffled common sense.” This conflict is very important to the text. We as a reader gain a better understanding of the central theme civilisation versus savagery. Through Jack, and his opposition of Ralph, “I should be chief, I’m chapter chorister and head boy…” we that once we let go of the moral propriety that society has instilled in us we will be consumed by savagery. This has major relevance to the wider world as by examining particular countries we see the value of civilisation versus savagery. America’s government was formed through a democratic process, it is a clear representation of civilisation, and its people are wealthy, they have all the necessities of life. This is very much in contrast to the toils of North Korea whose government formed as a result of totalitarianism. Its people are poor and struggle; it shows that civilisation has many benefits compared with savagery.
Throughout the novel a secondary conflict exists internally within man, ...
