LOTF Flashcards
Ralph - POINT 1
PRESENTED AS THE MODEL BOY - physically and morally - built like a ‘boxer’ with a ‘golden’ body
- symbol of civilisation, clings onto signal fire
- Last civilised boy - scarcity of civilisation in an abundance of evil
- he understands savagery - ‘darkness of mans heart’
Ralph POINT 2
A NATURAL LEADER
- chosen to guide the boys but can still find it difficult to manage the burden of leadership, or think straight
- tries to plan assembly, gets lost in a ‘maze of thoughts’- lack of articulation highlights the fact they are just children, lack reason and logic -> foreshadows chaos
- democratic leadership style conveyed through self-sacrifice and consideration for others
Ralph POINT 3
IMPERFECT
- golding uses him as a reminder that evil lurks within all (link to wider world microsm)
- exhilarated by the hunt-‘the desire to squeeze and hurt was over-mastering’(Robert hunt recreation) -> animal imagery, instincts
- takes part in the killing of Simon
Piggy POINT 1
AN OUTSIDER
- appearance is comical to the other boys, (fat, clumsy, asthmatic, wears glasses)
- intelligence contrasts appearance
- source of ridicule- his speech, ungrammatical expression (speaks in double negatives) ‘I don’t believe in no ghosts’-> highlights disadvantaged background
Piggy POINT 2
DEVOTED TO THE CONCH and LAW & ORDER
- he represents the logical side of civilisation
- BUT his logic stops him from seeing how far the others have slipped away from civilisation, trusts the power of the conch
- believes in acting like an adult ‘acting like a crowd of kids’ - IRONY(link to microcosm)
Piggy POINT 3
LOYAL AND SUPPORTIVE OF RALPH
- crucial to Ralph’s leadership on the island, his advisor -> even how to blow the conch and tells him to ‘come away’ after Simon dies
- despite his vulnerability to bullying his kindness remains unchanged- like his uniform and hair which stay the same SYMBOL
- symbol of civilisation- death marks the end of civilised behaviour
- boys ignore him- ignorance of common sense
3 points about ROGER
SECRETIVE AND SINISTER
- with ‘inner intensity’ - threatening -> golding describes a ‘darker shadow’ crossing his face- mysterious
BULLY
- throws stones at littluns to intimidate them
- he throws ‘to miss’ - conditioning of society prevents him from going to far
- as novel progresses, childish bullying turns into sadistic cruelty
-takes on role of torturer - forces Samneric to join jacks tribe
CAUSES MURDER
- he causes Piggys murder through ‘delirious abandonment’
- he ‘sharpened a stick at both ends’ for Ralph head -> premeditated murder
Jack POINT 1
NATURAL LEADER WITH A SELFISH DESIRE POWER AND CONTROL
- antithesis of Ralph- he wants to enforce rules but makes them up to suit himself - he says the conch ‘doesn’t count’
- golding JUXTAPOSES r+j
- shown to be militant and authoritarian from the onset, rules as a method of control -> punishments turn physical
Jack POINT2
BULLY
- teases piggy
- leadership built on fear - the boys are afraid of him yet they feel they need him to protect them- typical bully
- uses the littluns fear to control them ‘my hunters will protect you’ -> get ppl to join his tribe
- manipulation- like Hitlor manipulated peoples fear of Jewish
Jack point 3
OBSESSION WITH HUNTING AND KILLING
- this represents the ultimate control over surroundings
- first boy to injure/kill a pig ‘his laughter became a bloodthirsty snarling’
- his growing obsession with hunting reflects the groups regression
- taking a life gives him power
Fear point 1
SYMBOL OF THE BEAST TO INTRODUCE FEAR
- idea of ‘beastie’ suggested by a littlun - young, experiences fear easily
- older boys indulge fear- makes it stronger
- as the boys start to believe in it more the atmosphere becomes more terrifying
- fear leads them to behave like wild animals - think Simon is the beasts so they kill him ‘tearing of teeth and claws’
Fear point 2
SIMON IS THE ONLY BOY WHO UNDERSTANDS MANKIND
- he knows the true nature of the boys fear
- he continually tries to guide the boys to reality- ‘maybe its only us’, but due to his ‘batty’ nature he’s ignored therefore the fear drives the boys crazy and they succumb to savagery
- when he brings them truth -> boys kill him
Fear point 3
JACK ABUSES HIS POWER BY USING THE LITTLUNS FEAR
- ‘my hunters will protect you from the beast’ - facade of protector, not the case
- tells them that the beast can disguise itself and can never be killed which leaves them feeling insecure and threatened.
Civilisation vs savagery point 1
AT FIRST THE BOYS BEHAVE HOW THEY WOULD AT HOME
- respond to the situation with British tenacity- a boys own adventure
- they make rules/ assemblies / hands up
- conch is symbol of civilisation and authority -its power decreases
- the conditioning of society stops them from being too violent at first- roger throws stones to miss @the littluns
C v S point 2
CIVILISED VALUES FADE
- clothing and cleanliness degenerate -> littluns go to the toilet everywhere
- jacks hunting at first fits in with civilisation- but the ‘fierce exhilaration’ of hunting takes over sensible behaviour-> instinct — ‘his laughter became a bloodthirsty snarling’
- uniform becomes dirty/ take uniform off — nee uniform of paint provides ‘liberation into savagery’