How is Jack important in LOTF Flashcards
Intro
Golding presents the character of Jack as the main antagonist of the fable. In his characterization of Jack, Golding provides a clear example of his message- the dangers of “mankind’s essential illness.” Through the device of Jack’s descent into savagery, Golding is able to show how a catalytic leader can turn into a violent killer, due to “darkness in man’s heart.”
middle
“his hair was red” Connotations of red hair are different to Ralph’s “fair hair” => anger and fire.
Also Jack is described as ‘ape-like among the tangle of trees’ Animalistic imagery. The boys are losing their moral beliefs and just out to looking after themselves to surivive.
Also he says ‘We could… paint our faces’ Religious imagery used. We can see the devolution back to the tribal way of life, they are becoming more primitive and less civilized.
Middle 2
Golding in Chapter 4 is showing to the boys are losing there loss of innocence and civilization ‘Samneric. Get me a coconut. An Empty one’ The way Jack speaks in short sentences shoes a very primitive lifestyle of Jack. its almost like he is repressed to the earlier stages of learning the language
Ending
‘chattered in his ear like an ape’. Anaimalistic imagery which ties into thee theme of the book that Golding is trying to emphasis that humans are inherently evil and the only thing that stops us from being like that is to have rules and regulations which teach us that.
Conclusion
Golding created the character of Jack to create conflict contrary to the “Coral Island” idealism of the boys’ situation at the outset of the novel, we learn through his character development that he serves a higher purpose. He shows the capability of men, “mankind’s essential illness,” that Golding had experienced in himself in the aftermath of his role in WWII. Therefore, through the character of Jack, Golding warns us of the “darkness in man’s heart,” his purpose in the fable “Lord of the Flies.”
