Theme of Savagery in Lord of the Flies Essay Sample

The story Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, is about some children who end up stranded on an island due to a plane crash. They are forced to figure out how to survive using their basic knowledge. Jack, one of the older children, tries to become the leader of the group but gets out-voted by another member.This brings him anger that is shown throughout the story. He decides to become the leader of the hunting and finding food. Jack has a style of hunting that is not quite necessary, he enjoys overkilling his prey and slashing the animals just because the feeling of power it gives him is so strong. Jack is taken over by this feeling of killing things and has a ruthless behavior that he has for the rest of the story. He uses intimidation to keep his role on the island and ends up taking things very far. He resorts to anger and savagery to solve all of his conflicts. The aspect of savagery throughout this book is shown greatly through Jack.

Jack shows examples of his ruthless behavior when he starts hunting on the island. Jack sprung at the opportunity to lead the hunt for food. He more enjoys hunting for the thrill of killing and violence. As the hunt begins, Jack finds his first target, a pig. They hunted it and proceeded to kill it in a brutal manner for the group. When they returned to the rest of the group, “At last the words of the chant floated up to them, across the bowl of blackened wood and ashes. ‘Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Spill her blood’. (Golding p96). Jack really enjoys violence and brutality. He was not afraid to chant and be cocky about it either. The longer the boys were stranded, the more they hunted and became that much more taken over by the idea of killing.

Jack is a believer in what is called “the beast”. The boys on the island believe there to be a beast that lurks within the island. They believe that this beast has the ability to kill and hunt them. So after another ruthless hunt for a sow, Jack confirms the kill, “He knelt down again and was busy with his knife. The boys crowded around him. He spoke over his shoulder to Roger.’Sharpen a stick at both ends.’ Presently he stood up, holding the dripping sow’s head in his hands.” (Golding p196). Jack uses this head as an offering for the beast. He thinks with an offering, the beast will not harm them. Jack believes with this ruthless attitude, he will be feared by the other boys and they will join his side and not act against him. He gains more and more members just because of this, they are too scared to act out and take a stand because of the fear Jack gives them. Throughout the rest of the story, Jack will continue this intimidating and ruthless behavior.

Jack becomes so overwhelmed with power and ruthless behavior that he loses sight of important things that the boys need to survive. Jack has taken over almost all of the boys through intimidation and threats; When Ralph travels to see Jack, Ralph decides to take the conch shell hoping that it will remind Jack’s followers of his former leadership. This attempt does not work though because the boys are so scared of what Jack will do to them. Jack and Raph then start to argue about the intentions of Jack's leadership he has created. Ralph brings up points on how they need to do things in order to survive. Jack did not take this too well and they end up in a brawl. Jack again is just so enslaved in violence he resorts to it with everything. Piggy, one of the boys that is on Ralph’s side, steps in to try to bring back the maturity of the group and tries to resolve this. During his attempt, another one of the boys pushes a boulder toward him. Raph sees it and dives out of the way. Piggy on the other hand does not and gets hit and falls to his death. After Jack sees this, he realizes with one of the only other boys on Ralph’s side gone he should go after Ralph himself. So obviously Jack attempts to kill him, “ Suddenly Jack bounded out from the tribe and began screaming wildly. “See? See? That’s what you’ll get! I meant that! There isn’t a tribe for you any more! The conch is gone—” He ran forward, stooping. “I’m chief!” Viciously, with full intention, he hurled his spear at Ralph. The point tore the skin and flesh over Ralph’s ribs, then sheared off and fell in the water.”(Golding p260). Jack has no remorse for life anymore, he is so enslaved by this feeling of killing that he can’t go without it. It has spread to others too as we saw with Roger rolling the boulder at Piggy killing him.

Jack is an example of what is called a corrupt leader. He gets so addicted to the feeling of power that he can’t go without it and has to threaten others to keep it. On many occasions throughout the book we see his ruthlessness and urge to kill. Whether it be killing a sow or stabbing a human with a spear. Jack does show signs of a leader but gets taken over by the power and savagery of being stranded. His intentions are incorrect and he is not what the boys needed to survive on the island. These boys did start their life on the island in a more civil way but due to how long they were there and how little that had, it turned them into savages. Jack represents this idea of savagery and ruthlessness throughout the book perfectly.