Ralph Flashcards
What does Ralph represent in the novel?
Order, civilization, and productive leadership
What does Ralph concern himself with whilst on the island?
Ralph sets about building huts and thinking of ways to maximize their chances of being rescued
What does the boys leaving Ralph for Jack represent?
Because Ralph represents civilization and order and Jack represents savagery and violence, the other boys turning to Jack for leadership represents the boys’ inner evil coming out and thus reverting to Jack for leadership, as opposed to Ralph’s civilization.
What does Ralph do that indicates that there is evil in everyone, even him?
He considers once joining Jack’s tribe to save himself and also takes part in the killing of Roger. However, we know that Ralph is mostly good as when he realises this, he goes into despair, and is the only character that recognises it was murder.
What does Ralph come to terms with at the end?
He sees the burden of human evil. Ralph discovers this throughout the book too, (his clothes rot and he discovers dirt and decay. This coincides with his loss of precise thought).
How is Ralph described in the book?
He is described as having a “golden body” and having blonde hair. He is intelligent and shows decent common sense. He is calm and collective even in difficult situations: “answered him politely, as if agreeing about the weather.” British culture is famed for civilized reserve in emotional times. By the standards of the society he’s left behind, Ralph is a gentleman, and society still exist within him
Ralph is a blonde boy. How could this be the authors way of indicating what his character is like?
Ralph’s hair is a golden blonde, which could represent his flair, popularity amongst the boys at the start of the novel and his natural, outgoing personality.
