Golding describes how Simon is almost the exact opposite of Jack. Jack is tall, thin, and anxious to do daring and adventurous activities. Readers would imply that Jack would be the hero and keep order in the civilization with his manly attributes. However, Simon chooses to rise above his naturally timid personality and cooperate with the leader’s orders. Ralph, as the elected leader, was setting the rules and making suggestions. He informed the boys they were going to have to determine if the land they were stranded on was indeed an island. Every boy readily agreed to search over the island. However, Ralph only wanted to involve three boys in the search, so the boys would not lose each other on the exploration of the land. Ralph chose Jack and Simon to go along with him, with Simon getting stuck in the middle. "If Simon walks in the middle of us," said Ralph, "then we could talk over his head" (24). Any other boy in the group would have had been offended by this comment of Ralph's, but Simon did not take it personally. He wanted to make the best of the situation. Simon did not argue because he did not want to start chaos among the group of boys. Simon having a sensitive personality, Ralph’s comment, would have hurt his feelings. Instead, Simon overlooked his feelings and explored with the boys for the common good of the civilization. He simply complied with the tasks he was asked to accomplish. Simon is easy going and does what is asked—this attitude allows for the civilization to continue in a peaceful manner.
As a peacemaker, Simon also embraced the marvels of nature. He took unexpected walks into the forest alone and created feelings of being in paradise. Having such a love for nature reflects his placid personality. Simon goes out into the forest full of ferns with vines hanging from large trees. There is not any movement but a pair of “gaudy butterflies dancing around” in the hot air (57). Simon’s escape from the civilization was to a place he enjoyed. He wanted peace and quiet not the sound of the boys fighting, or the sound of the boys giving each other orders. Simon was clever enough to imagine a canopy of trees and vines as a small cabin screened off from the rest of the island. He does not actually lose track of reality. Simon realizes what is happening to the boys’ relationships. He can tell the boys are splitting apart due to greed of having the power. Simons does start to think deeply because he needed to mentally escape from the civilization in which the boys live. He knows the goal of survival will not be reached in a civilization where the boys will not work together. Simon struggles with his inner self, emotions, and thoughts as the society in which he is living is eroding due to chaos. "He had steed frowing down at a pile of sand on the beach where somebody had been trying to build a little house or hut. The he turned his back on this and walked into the forest with an air of purpose. He was a small, skinny boy, his chin pointed, and his eyes so bright they had deceived Ralph into thinking him delightfully gay and wicked." He is fearful that he, too, will become lost and caught up in evil. Fighting the battle against evil alone is an obstacle and only a strong willed character is able overcome the evil inside.
At the beginning of the novel, characters demonstrate multiple roles, but their true roles will appear move obvious. Golding places Ralph in a leadership role, sharing with Simon the duties of the protagonist. Ralph calls the meetings and orders the boys to do certain jobs. However, civilization becomes chaotic and evil begins to take precedence over his good intentions and quality of leadership skills. Ralph was a leader that started out caring for all the boys. He was so intent in making every decision the correct decision that he became apprehensive because he wanted to plan his actions properly. “Listen, everybody. I’ve got to have time to think things out. I can’t decide what to do straight off […]” (23). Ralph was intent on molding the group of boys into a civilization that consisted of order and helping each other with a teamwork atmosphere.
A leader has to motivate the group in order to be successful. One of the first plans Ralph announced to the boys was to make a signal fire. He felt their best chance of rescue was to create smoke and alert those traveling nearby. He knew the only way people on the boats would realize their existence on the island was if the boats detected smoke. Ralph became obsessed with the signal fire and placed Jack and the hunters in charge of the fire. These boys were given the responsibility of tending the fire and were expected to keep the fire burning constantly. Ralph was using his strong leadership skills for the common good of their civilization by requiring strict adherence to this rule of keeping the signal fire burning at all times. He also illustrated good human instincts when he built the huts. Ralph realized the littluns were frightened to the point they could not sleep at night, and consequently, he built the huts primarily for them. "If it rains like when we dropped in we'll need shelters all right." With this kind gesture from Ralph and some help from a couple of the older boys, the huts were built to help the littluns to be sheltered and feel at home. The huts also provided security. Ralph’s leadership decisions had a strengthening effect on the whole group bring them hope and security.
Evil impulses increasingly move toward Ralph each time chaos in the civilization arises. Ralph talked to the boys about how important the fire was for rescue, Golding, later in the novel, shows how much Ralph valued the fire. Ralph, Piggy, and a couple of the other boys had been swimming and enjoying the beach. Ralph shouted, “Smoke, smoke” (65). When Ralph noticed there was no smoke on the horizon and the chance for the boys to be rescued was ruined, he thought the possibility of going to the top of the mountain to start a fire was useless. He loses control, and his childish actions are revealed. Ralph allowed for a verbal fight between him and Jack. The rest of the boys heard and saw the boys. He did not think logically because he was very frustrated. Ralph wanted to say the worst words to show the hunters how he really felt about not maintaining their duties. He is angry and wants to be left alone. Yet, he can no longer conceal his emotions; he wants to scream. This behavior is natural to him and obviously makes him feel better to act immature about a simple mistake the hunters have made.
Jack, on the other hand, had put the value of the signal fire last in his priorities. He was totally consumed in the killing of the pig. The hunters chant, “Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Spill her blood” (69). Jack and all of his hunters have become obsessive hunters and have developed a wild desire to kill. Their emotions were all clashing. The hunters would dance to the celebration of a killing of a pig. They would also reenact the hunting experience and take turns being the pig. At the same time, civilization was not even any concern to the hunters. Ralph is concerned about the fire, and Jack is obsessed with hunting. Jack was not only mentally changing into a savage but also physically. Jack painted his face with clay, planning his new face. Both are relying on these distractions for their security. The only concern on Ralph’s mind was the fire, and he told Jack about his concern. Jack was preoccupied with killing the pig. Chaos has increased and tension has grown stronger. Ralph is concerned with the needs that he thinks are important. He should be elated that Jack and the hunters have killed meat for the boys to eat because food was a basic need for survival especially as young as the boys are. At the same time, Jack is being selfish, and evil is starting to play a major role in his actions. Alls Jack wants to do is go kill pigs and play his hunting game. Jack will not help with the huts that help with shelter for the littluns or pick fruit for the littluns. One of the major rules Ralph made was to tend to the fire at all times not letting the fire burn out. Jack and the hunters were caught up in their “game” of hunting and forgot about the signal fire that could have resulted in their rescue. "Jack checked, vaguely irritated by this irrelevance but too happy to let it worry him." As the leadership qualities in Ralph begin to crumble, the followers are lost. They quickly seek an alternative leader and take orders automatically to survive.
Civilization was chaotic, and the boys were becoming mentally deranged. Order was gone, and Ralph doubted his capability to fulfill the leadership roles. As the novel comes to a conclusion, Ralph is in a state of depression. He allows the evil within humans to overcome the good values that put him in the role of leadership. Simon and Piggy had to remind Ralph of the importance to keep order in the civilization. Simon and Piggy tell Ralph how even though order is not perfect at the moment that if he totally loses all connection with the boys then civilization will be ruined. A strong and confident role model is the root of a successful society. In the power struggle for leadership of the self-structured civilization, Jack gained his power from Ralph’s weaknesses. Jack turned the boys into savages, as the boys thrived on the brutality of the kill. Even though desire for order was deteriorating, Simon was forced to face reality. Realization, of defeat, is accepted in this personal experience. Simon is affected physically and mentally upon seeing the Lord of the Flies. The gruesome sow’s head, the wretched flies, and the dripping blood represented the emblem of evil. Simon’s final quest to aid in recapturing decency was his final defeat. The Lord of the Flies thrives on the weak and tries to defeat the strong willed. “There isn’t anyone to help you. Only me. And I’m the Beast.” Simon’s mouth labored, brought forth audible words…“Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill!” said the head. You knew, didn’t you? Close, close, close! I’m the reason why it’s no go? Why things are the way they are?” (143).
Lord of the Flies is a grim reminder of how easily and quickly a society can be broken down. Selfishness, anger, and lack of discipline can all lead to chaos and destruction. Simon, on the other hand, portrays a great example of a peacemaker. His effort to get along with the boys is an encouragement that positive actions do make a difference. At the same time, Ralph illustrates the act of goodness which is forced upon him through the pressure of society. Golding uses characterization in order to show how forces of evil and good work within humans, magnifying the character’s behavior as order are lost in civilization. The author also magnifies this further when the rescuers are taking part in war. The boys’ biggest fear was the “beast”, but the final demise was within each boy mentally affecting their civilization. The failure to work together for the good of all and self-centeredness was their weakness. It was not the outside forces, but evil from within each person’s mind was the final defeat.