Power In Lord Of The Flies Research Paper

Humans are guided by those in higher power; they provide safety, leadership, and courage. But hidden underneath the glorified structure of government, lies perpetuating power struggles. William Golding illustrates the destructive power that exists in our society. Jack and Ralph, two competitive boys with two completely different ways of survival, battle to gain power throughout the book. In Lord of the Flies, Golding reveals that due to humanity’s competitiveness, need for control, and conflicting styles of government, power naturally corrupts.
When given the opportunity to hold control, our competitive instincts overpower our morals. Jack and Ralph both obtain the strength and desire to be chief of the island, but there can only be one leader. This leads to chaos as they begin to establish structure on the island. Jack, claiming with arrogance that he “ought to be chief because [he’s] chapter chorister and

Throughout Lord of the Flies, Jack and Ralph develop contrasting ideas for how to lead the boys. Ralph, representing democracy, longs for “that understandable and lawful world“ (Golding 91). Jack, however, is the opposite. He and his tribe have fully converted into savages, their violence being described as having “no words, and no movements but the tearing of teeth and claws” (Golding 153). The use of “ tearing of teeth and claws” reveals the chaos that has erupted on the island. Jack and his tribe support this anarchy, but Ralph believes they need rules in order to stay alive. Society is built around a type of government, such as democracy, monarchy, or dictatorship. When people disagree on the style of government, war breaks loose and structure is destroyed. Those with authority often lose their power as people revolt and new groups are formed. Of course, changing government styles are not a bad thing; they are a natural part of humanity. But with the changes, power is lost and society