Jack Corruption In Lord Of The Flies

Jealous, immature, aggressive, hostile, emotionless. Are these things you would look for in a leader? The majority would say no, but it worked on the island for one reason. In the novel The Lord of the Flies by William Golding, Jack led by intimidation and controlled by fear. He was corrupted by his own need for power. Jack’s conflicts with humanity and himself heavily contributed to his corruption and the downfall of the society on the island.

Throughout the time on the island Jack became motivated by jealousy and hatred. Ever since the very first day on the island, Jack has been jealous of Ralph. Jack’s resentment towards Ralph grew as the time on the island did. On the first day on the island, Ralph was elected leader for many reasons. Ralph

Ralph usually sided with Piggy, mainly because Piggy thought logically and Jack thought about only the present and never about the future. Jack never brings up his feelings about this except to use it against Ralph during an argument, “That’s right---Go ahead and favor Piggy like you always do---” (91). Ralph earlier realized not even he knew how “a link between him and Jack had been snapped and fastened elsewhere” (73).

Eventually Jack becomes the chief of the savages. His leadership was based on intimidation and hostility. He introduced the idea of warpaint early on but it then becomes very significant in his group. Jack wears so much he becomes unrecognizable to Ralph without it. “Jack, identifiable by personality and red hair, was advancing from the forest” (176). The war paint made Jack appear more intimidating to the other boys on the island. This made them more eager to listen to him.

Jack used his war paint while hunting. He prioritized hunting over everything, including being rescued and building shelters. “I was chief, and you were going to do what I said. You talk. But you can’t even build huts---then you go off hunting and let out the fire---” (71). Jack hunted to prove something to the others; he hunted to prove he was powerful. Jack hunted all the time but it never proved he was a good