You will submit sample work about Lord of the Flies. Please do one of the following prompts below.

Question

1. Now that you have finished reading Lord of the Flies, consider its four main characters—Ralph, Jack, Piggy, and Simon. Access the graphic organizer and use it to create a character map with a brief description of each character and how they are developed. Connect the boxes with labeled arrows that describe the relationships among the characters. Then, use the map to write a short paragraph with a general analysis of how interaction between two or three of these characters advances the novel’s plot or theme.

Answer 1

Character Map of Lord of the Flies

Ralph

• Description: Ralph is the protagonist and a natural leader. He embodies order, civilization, and democratic values. Initially optimistic, he becomes increasingly troubled by the boys' descent into savagery.
• Development: Ralph's leadership is challenged throughout the novel, showing his struggle to maintain order in the face of chaos.

Jack

• Description: Jack is the primary antagonist, representing instinctual evil and the desire for power. He starts as a choir boy but becomes increasingly savage, prioritizing hunting and domination.
• Development: Jack’s character reveals the theme of the innate human capacity for violence and chaos, growing more authoritarian and violent throughout the story.

Piggy

• Description: Piggy is intellectual and rational, providing critical insights and ideas. He represents the voice of reason and science, although he is often ridiculed and marginalized by the other boys.
• Development: Despite his intelligence, Piggy’s physical weakness and social status highlight the tension between intellect and emotional strength, and his fate underscores the fragility of civilization.

Simon

• Description: Simon is a sensitive and moral character who represents natural human goodness and spirituality. He frequently retreats to nature, reflecting his introspective nature.
• Development: Simon’s understanding of the “beast” reveals deeper truths about humanity and ultimately leads to tragic consequences, emphasizing the novel's exploration of innate evil.

Relationships

• Ralph → Jack: Leadership conflict, struggles for power.
• Ralph → Piggy: Friendship and reliance, representing reason vs. chaos.
• Jack → Piggy: Hostility, immediate rejection of Piggy's ideas.
• Simon → Ralph: Supportive, moral grounding for Ralph’s leadership.

Analysis

The interactions between Ralph, Jack, and Piggy significantly advance the themes of civilization versus savagery and the fragility of societal order. Ralph’s attempts to establish rules and maintain order through the conch echo the ideals of democracy and civilization. However, his clashes with Jack, who increasingly embodies anarchic chaos and the primal instincts of man, highlight the struggle between civility and savagery. Piggy serves as Ralph’s ally and moral compass, underscoring the importance of logic and reason in overcoming chaos. Their dynamic reveals that even the most rational voices can be overpowered by aggressive instincts, culminating in Piggy’s tragic demise. This pivotal moment exemplifies the novel’s central theme that the veneer of civilization is thin and easily stripped away, leaving behind humanity’s more primal instincts.