The desire for power is one of the fundamental aspects of human nature. Power can be expressed in many ways both for good and for evil. Being a leader takes tremendous responsibilities and if misused, can have a lasting effect on the people governed. Dee Houk once said, “Control is not leadership; management is not leadership; leadership is leadership.” Jack believes leadership is about management and control. As a result, his actions cause the death of multiple people. In the novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding, Jack seeks to be the king of island at all costs through the oppression and control of others. This desire for power can be seen right from the beginning of the novel. “I ought to be chief,” said Jack(23). However, the boys …show more content…
Jack! You haven’t got the conch! Let him speak… And you shut up! Who are you, anyways?... ‘I’m Chief, I was chosen.’” (91) Again the order is threatened by Jack’s lust for power. Ralph, the chief, symbolizes the peace and stability of the island and Jack represents chaos and anarchy. Representing these qualities, he cannot be silenced for much longer.
Jack, no longer being able to be a subordinate, creates his own tribe. Golding specifically uses this word to symbolize the disorder the island is in. As the stereotypical indian tribe is savage like and perform strange rituals, so did the new group Jack had created. At this point in the novel all structure has subsided. The tribe is highly bloodthirsty and even accidently kill one of their own in an uncontrolled frenzy. This death is meant to further represent how far the island has come from being a joyful place of excitement and fun.
Lord of the Flies was written to show the fragility of society. It shows how one wrong move can lead to turmoil and chaos. Even the most civilized can quickly turn mad in a short period of time.
It is best said on the last page of the book when the boys are finally rescued, and officer says, “I should have thought that a pack of British boys… would have been able to put on a better show than that.