Jack Character Analysis in Lord of the Flies Essay Sample

In an assembly of boys, it is assured that some will be shy, some kind, some cruel, and some smart. Without adult supervision, it will be difficult to find a balance in the group. As Golding has found from previous experiences in World War 2, he has seen people turn to their cruel warlike nature, saying that anyone can become a NAZI. Without balance in the group, some characters start to develop a cruel, warlike nature. One character that exhibits this warlike nature is Jack. Throughout the novel, he turns from an imperious choir boy to a warlike beast in his conquest for domination and power.

At the beginning of the novel, Jack is characterized through his dialogue as an imperious[1] choir boy expected to be at the highest standards of a civilized society. Early on in the book Jack says: “I ought to be chief.” Jack, in this instance, assumes power without rationale and rather “with simple arrogance,” (22). However, despite Jack’s hunger for power early on, he is still willing to partake in the island’s civilization. Jack also still exhibits morality and humanity, this is evident when he sets out for his hunt. While he is on his expedition he finds a piglet, which would be a great source of food for the group. Jack cannot bring himself to kill the pig, “There came a pause…  the pig continued to scream.. The pause was only long enough for them [the three boys] to understand what an enormity the downward stroke would be…” (31). The author’s word choice of ‘enormity’ proves Jack believes killing the piglet is a big deal. Jack in this instance follows his morals as he feels he has no right to violate the piglet’s right to live. After Jack decides not to kill the pig, he gets his criticism from the group, but “They knew very well why he hadn’t: because of the enormity of the knife descending and cutting into living flesh;” (31). Jack, however, commits to not letting a pig escape his wrath again. This criticism also leads Jack into a vengeful state which causes him to act aggressively. From here, Jack starts his descent into becoming a warlike figure indulged in hunting and violence.

The failure to kill the pig and the failure to overcome his compassion for the pig makes Jack feel weaker and less powerful. As the plot moves along, Jack’s actions characterize him, and show his warlike nature begins to manifest.  As Jack slowly begins to develop a hunting obsession, “He trie[s] to convey the compulsion to track down and kill that was swallowing him up.” (51). This shows a turning point in Jack’s character as he turns to his warlike primal instincts. The world ‘compulsion’ suggests it is out of Jack’s control; it is instinctive. This makes him descend into total madness as he goes through a bloodlust. Later in the novel, Jack and his hunters kill a mother pig nursing her offspring by cutting its throat. The boys in this hunt are far less hesitant in the act of killing than they were in the first hunt. The boys are now beginning to take pleasure in the cruelty and brutality of hunting, as they are “bleeding and mad” (135). Their excitement continues “as the hunters followed, wedded to her in lust, excited by the long chase and the dropped blood,” (135). The killing of the mother pig proves to be the moment of no return for Jack and the boys as they have now turned to their bloodthirsty nature. 

Jack is now characterized as a warlike beast through his actions. After the murder of the pig, the hunters had a feast where they imitated the hunt. They painted their faces and imitated the joy they had felt during the hunt. However, Jack’s obsession with blood doesn’t end with animals and hunting. The idea of a beast roaming the island has the group’s attention. The hunters are constantly thinking of killing and hunting down the beast. The boys begin to notice something as “A thing was crawling out of the forest.” (152). It was Simon, but in the frenzy state the hunters are in, they fail to recognize this. They holler that he is the beast and descend upon him with no mercy. Simon frantically attempts to prompt them of who he is and what is happening but he falls over the rocks onto the beach. The boys fall on top of him and brutally kill him with their hands and teeth. The boys seem unaffected after this horrendous act and simply let Simon’s corpse drift away into the ocean. The death of Simon represents the completion of Jack going from imperious to warlike. The boys have completely lost their morale and given in to their savage primal instinct. From here Jack is a major influence in Piggy’s death as well a bit later on. Ralph and his group decided to go to Castle Rock and try to talk reason with Jack’s tribe, but they had no luck. Jack’s tribe attacked the group and Roger dropped a boulder on Piggy. Along with the murder of Piggy, Jack’s tribe have also captured Sam and Eric. This leaves the island to Jack’s authoritative control. The forces of civility, wisdom, and innocence have been outdone by violence and brutality. The conch, which was the symbol for civilization, has now “exploded into a thousand white fragments” (181), marking the end of civilization.

Through the author’s character depiction of Jack, he reveals his viewpoint towards human civilization. Golding believes civility is not to human nature, rather a limitation for humans to get to their true warlike nature. As the novel progresses we see how the need for power supersedes the desire for peace and order. It is effortless for a person to say the importance of civilization and the need for limitations in a population. However, it is him who will lose his innocence, fall into his id, and revert to his warlike nature if it was for his benefit.