Totalitarianism against Democracy in Lord of the Flies Essay Example

In William Golding’s novel, “Lord of the Flies”, he uses human nature to portray the withdrawal from civilization, and the gradual pull toward savagery. The boys progress from well-mannered kids to complete savage during the duration of the novel. Two boys who go through the most progress during the novel are Ralph and Jack. These two characters act as two opposing influential figures. Ralph represents order and reason, while Jack represents unbridled savagery. As they compete for leadership, the others begin to choose between Ralph or Jack's way of living. Golding clings to his motive for representation of human nature by making Ralph and Jack portray the battle between democracy and totalitarianism throughout the novel. With the boys having loose strings and free will on the island, Jack’s ideals start to overpower Ralph’s. Jack’s way of leading the boys has parallels to totalitarianism in life. It’s shown throughout history, when leaders take power, such as Hitler of Germany, Mussolini of Italy, and Stalin of Russia.

Ralph and Jack are similar in the sense that they are both power-hungry. Throughout the story, we begin to see the difference in their motives. Ralph uses his power to create a democracy within the island. He makes it viable for each person to have the right to voice their opinions and ideas. “If we have a signal going, they'll come and take us off. And another thing. we ought to have more rules. Where the conch is, that's a meeting. The same up here as down here” (Golding 42). This quote depicts how Ralph has the ability to hold himself, as well as others, accountable. He focuses on everyone’s stability rather than only his own. Jack becomes a leader of a totalitarian society. He begins to strike fear into the other boys' to achieve and sustain his power as a leader. “Bollocks to the rules! We’re strong – we hunt! If there’s a beast, we’ll hunt it down! We’ll close in and beat and beat and beat !” (Golding 91). This shows how Jack maneuvers his way around the rules to put a restriction on the other boy's power. Consequently, he likes for himself to be the conductor of his own demise. Ralph instills stability and guidelines for the group to follow. He makes sure there is flexibility for everyone on the island. Jack contradicts this as he instills fear and restriction for the group. He wants flexibility only for himself, so he can be the one with the ability to do as he pleases.

Throughout the novel, there is a gradual turn from a democracy into totalitarianism as the boys on the island are slowly exhibited individuality. In Hannah Arendt’s, “The Origins of Totalitarianism, She accentuates how totalitarianism permits an essence in terror where its purpose is to kill the spontaneity of the human spirit. Hannah puts a spotlight on how countries overcome such pain by learning from mistakes from before. Jack demonstrates the evil in a power-hungry and selfish dictator. The acts of totalitarianism, censorship, and scapegoating are not situations that turn out favorably for anyone who isn't in power. It only provides for its own eccentricity. When totalitarianism is in power, it only fuels itself by neutralizing all those who might question it. Jack builds off of this with his want for power. People of totalitarianism only build a world where they can prosper and base everything on their own desire. Jack's actions continue to reflect themes, events, and people in history. 

In comparison to events in history, Jack reflects characteristics of past leaders. He was young so of course he wouldn’t be put to that standard, but it’s clearly shown as he takes the risk of killing to have power. In the article, “Beware of Another Reichstag Fire”, written by Helene Sinnreich, she describes common attributes of Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Joseph Stalin as their means to attempt to achieve an obedient nation through their personal visions for Germany, Italy, and the Soviet Union. She notes beforehand that when they immediately assumed power they did not engage in mass murders and other atrocities that came later. Similarly, Jack exerts his accomplishments to portray himself as a dominant, capable leader. As mentioned, Jack reflects the events of gradually winning people over until he fully overthrows the previously installed government. It’s seen as Jack uses tactics of past leaders such as violence, marches or meetings to reinforce group cohesion, quashing of opponents and democratic institutions, and taking away civil liberties. Jack desires authority and views Ralph as his enemy and competitor because he is in a position of power. Jack shows parallels of totalitarian dictatorships as he takes slow power over the island. 

It is shown in the reading that Jack exhibits parallels and themes of past events and leaders. William Golding shows the descent into a totalitarian society that is reflected through Jack's character. Jack's desire for authority grows as he starts to undermine the other boys on the island. Golding transcends the political struggle to show the true nature of man. Jack and Ralph’s characters expose the existence between the fight for the purity of democracy and the evils that totalitarianism remains violent, unfortunate, and perpetual. Jack’s actions show the destruction of what power-hungry people and institutions can bring.