Power Used Correctly
Ralph, the protagonist in Lord of the Flies, is a natural leader that believes in the greater-good of the human race. Even though the environment around him changes, Ralph stays true to his beliefs. I think Ralph’s characteristics of leadership, interaction with others, and how he reacts to his environment prove that he has agency.
The authoritative character Ralph is known for being a good leader, loyal, and caring. At the beginning of Lord of the Flies, he is nominated as the chief, and he does his best to make everyone get along. Many of the boys become interested in hunting, but mature Ralph, practical and ardent, thinks of a way to help get everyone off the island, and he builds a fire. On page 104, the boys are worried because there is a beast. Golding writes, “Something deep in Ralph spoke for him. ‘I'm chief. I'll go. Don't argue.’” Being the best chief he can be, Ralph decides to look for the beast. Ralph is also the one that brings the boys all together in the first place by blowing the conch shell. This is an example of Ralph using his power for the better, because he knows he has to protect all the other boys.
Ralph also finds it very easy to get along with the other boys at the beginning of the book. Although most of the other boys would rather goof around than work to get off the island, Ralph is still able to get the boys to participate. But once Jack, the cruel antagonist, starts gaining power, Ralph is not able to get along with the other boys as well. Once people change, people may not be able to get along with them the same as they used to which shows that Ralph has agency.
The environment around Ralph changes due to Jack and his savageness, but Ralph remains the same. He keeps the same views on the goodness of the human race and tries to act responsibly. When the boys become mad, Ralph and a few of his friends try to stay as far away from that clan as possible. They do not start wars, steal, or act immature towards them. Instead, Ralph keeps his sanity and remains the same through the transition of the environment around him. On page 180 Piggy, Ralph’s loyal friend, asks the savages, “Which is better—to be a pack of painted Indians like you are, or to be sensible like Ralph is?" Piggy is comparing the madness the boys are involved in to the practical way Ralph is trying to lead. Reacting to the environment the way Ralph does--by keeping the same views on life and behavior--once again proves he has agency.
Ralph is a loyal character that sticks to his views on power. He uses power for good instead of evil, and cares about the people he is in charge of. Ralph’s character has agency because of his characteristics of leadership, interacting well with others, and reacting as positively as he can to the change in environment.
Works Cited
Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. London: Faber and Faber, 1954. Print.
The authoritative character Ralph is known for being a good leader, loyal, and caring. At the beginning of Lord of the Flies, he is nominated as the chief, and he does his best to make everyone get along. Many of the boys become interested in hunting, but mature Ralph, practical and ardent, thinks of a way to help get everyone off the island, and he builds a fire. On page 104, the boys are worried because there is a beast. Golding writes, “Something deep in Ralph spoke for him. ‘I'm chief. I'll go. Don't argue.’” Being the best chief he can be, Ralph decides to look for the beast. Ralph is also the one that brings the boys all together in the first place by blowing the conch shell. This is an example of Ralph using his power for the better, because he knows he has to protect all the other boys.
Ralph also finds it very easy to get along with the other boys at the beginning of the book. Although most of the other boys would rather goof around than work to get off the island, Ralph is still able to get the boys to participate. But once Jack, the cruel antagonist, starts gaining power, Ralph is not able to get along with the other boys as well. Once people change, people may not be able to get along with them the same as they used to which shows that Ralph has agency.
The environment around Ralph changes due to Jack and his savageness, but Ralph remains the same. He keeps the same views on the goodness of the human race and tries to act responsibly. When the boys become mad, Ralph and a few of his friends try to stay as far away from that clan as possible. They do not start wars, steal, or act immature towards them. Instead, Ralph keeps his sanity and remains the same through the transition of the environment around him. On page 180 Piggy, Ralph’s loyal friend, asks the savages, “Which is better—to be a pack of painted Indians like you are, or to be sensible like Ralph is?" Piggy is comparing the madness the boys are involved in to the practical way Ralph is trying to lead. Reacting to the environment the way Ralph does--by keeping the same views on life and behavior--once again proves he has agency.
Ralph is a loyal character that sticks to his views on power. He uses power for good instead of evil, and cares about the people he is in charge of. Ralph’s character has agency because of his characteristics of leadership, interacting well with others, and reacting as positively as he can to the change in environment.
Works Cited
Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. London: Faber and Faber, 1954. Print.