Lord of the Flies

Ralph´s role as a leader is very strong on the deserted island. Like all leaders, he experiences glories and downfalls, high points and low points during his status as chief on the island. Ralph sets out showing his leadership by suggesting to build huts and thinking of ways how to maximize their chances for retrieval. Ralph starts their first task with an expedition to find out if they are on an island so that they can analyze how to be rescued. Ralph displays his leadership when he says, "Everybody must stay round here and wait and not go away. Three of us?if we take more we'd get all mixed, and lose each other?three of us will go on an expedition and find out." (p. 20) Ralph is suggesting that finding out if they are on an island would give them a better interpretation as to how to be rescued and that they should have the minimum number of people do it so that no one gets separated from the group. This shows that he is a good leader and intends to create and maintain safety for all. Even as a leader, Ralph has his insecurities. It is shown when Ralph spots the boat and the fire isn't lit. Ralph says, "We might have gone home?I was chief, and you were going to do what I said. You talk. But you cant even build huts-then you go off hunting and let out the fire." (p.65) Ralph desires to go home and finds how hard the position as leader is and is weighed down by responsibilities. Ralph, even though struggles at points, is a strong leader and tries to please the group and instill a sense of calmness and hope.

Ralph represents civilization in the fact that he wants everyone to live fairly amongst one another and follow the rules. He is very democratic and takes a rational perspective based on his beliefs of justice. Ralph sees the island as his Eden, a perfect place where everything belongs to them. He realizes, like all the other boys that a world without adults means that they could do as they pleased but unlike the others he immediately realizes the need for rules and organization. Ralph says to Jack while they are arguing, "The rules are the only thing we've got!" (p. 84) Ralph believes the rules keep the boys attached to some semblance of society, but without these rules there will be chaos and consequences for everyone. Later in the story Ralph is fighting between being civilized and being a savage. He says during the assembly, "The fire's the most important thing. Without the fire we can't be rescued. I'd like to put on war-paint and be a savage. But we must keep the fire burning. The fire's the most important thing on the island, because, because, ?Oh yes. Without the fire we can't be rescued. So we must stay by the fire and make smoke." (p. 131) Ralph is struggling between choosing fire, which represents civilization, or war-paint, which represents savagery. Ralph believes in acting civilized with rules and not converting into savagery but it is becoming more difficult since the children are starting to follow Jack's lead and the bloody hunt. Living in a civilized manner is Ralph's most important goals yet his hardest struggle on the deserted island.