Jack Character Analysis in Lord of the Flies Essay Example

In William Golding’s novel ‘Lord of the Flies’ Jack is a central character .through jack’s experiences Golding highlights the key themes of civilisation and savagery. Golding’s novel ‘Lord of the Flies’ following a young group of English school boys who crashed onto a tropical island while evaluating a war zone. They become convinced of a beast on the island and the novel explore how the boys lose their civilisation and turn into primal savages.

Golding establishes Jack as a character who the theme of civilisation is highlighted through his experience of wanting to be chief. At the beginning of the novel the boys come together and decide they need a chief jack believes that he should be in charge. ’I ought to be chief’ when we first meet jack we see he is leading a group of choir boys.He is presented formally still in his uniform. Due to Jacks authority and leadership over the boys they too are in uniform. This shows jack believe in power and order as he has made himself the leader of the boys even though they are not in their usual society. This introduces the theme of civilisation as the boys are acting as they would in regular setting, following Jacks orders .It also shows jack is power hunger, jumping at the first chance to have more control. ‘I’m chapter chorister…head boy…sing a C sharp’ Golding uses a list to emphasise all the reasons jack believe he should lead the boys .Jack believes he is the best for the role as he is the most qualified this links into the theme of civilisation as in society jack was picked to lead due to his abilities showing that jack still believes in the values of civilisation. The theme of civilisation is shown again through jack’s reaction to losing the vote. ’He started up...and sits down again.’ This shows a crack in Jacks civilisation. Jack was going to fight the decision but instead composed himself and sat back down this shows that civilisation still has a strong hold on Jack as the acted in a civilised way instead of allowing a savage outburst.

Golding introduces the theme of savagery through Jacks obsessive over hunting. After Ralph is elected chief he allows Jack authority over the choir and allows him to designate a job to his group. ‘Hunters’ is what Jack chooses to select which is uncharacteristic for the boy. This introduces the theme of savagery as Jack makes the conscious choose to choose a role in which he is to slaughter creatures for food. This is the start of Jack violent savage impulses being presented. Although Jack is still somewhat civilised even after this chose, he choose the job for a group he gets to control showing he still believes in order and functions as he would have to in society. The savagery escalates further through Jack’s experience hunting a big. ‘Thought he might kill it.’ The use of might by Golding shows that Jack hasn’t been engulfed by this savage thoughts. On the other hand it shows Jack is slowly falling into those savage urges as the thought of killing/butchering something is at the front of his mind. ‘I cut the pig’s throat’ this shows Jack losing the majority of this civilisation as he brutally cuts the throat of a pig and brags to the others. This links into the theme of savagery as Jack has escalated from thinking about killing to actually acting out his violent needs.

Golding creates a particular experience in which the theme of savagery is highlighted through Jacks desire to kill Ralph. Jack savage urges escalate to him hunting Ralph. ‘Heave!’ is that Jack yells at the other savages to do as they push a bolder higher. Jack intends to crush Ralph and is making the others help. This shows the theme of savagery as Jack has went from killing pigs to hunts Ralph. Showing a drastic incline in Jacks savage behaviour. ‘Smoke!’ After Jack realise he can’t crash Ralph he decides to burn down the entire jungle. This could be seen as a metaphor for Jack losing his civilisation. Just as savagery consumed and took over jack’s civilisation so too did the fire spreading across the island.