Authority In Lord Of The Flies

People are always relying on leaders to help them along, but maybe it’s safer to go on alone. After surviving the crash, the boys rely on each other for their everyday tasks. They go as far as selecting one boy to make all the decisions for the group. As time goes on, they find separate ways of learning what really makes a great leader. In the book, Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, the authority and fear produced by Jack and Ralph influence the unity within the group.

Authority is something you earn, but it can’t just be given to you. During the entirety of this novel Ralph and Jack continuously fight about who should be in charge of the chiefly duties. No doubt they both have great leadership skills and qualities. Because the two boys

At first, the boys were scared of living on the island. By the end, they were scared of each other and the petrifying beast that was roaming around the island. During one of the periodic assemblies thoughts of a beast arise throughout the boys. Consequently, an argument starts between Ralph and Jack about the beast as, “the circle of boys shrank in horror… The bright morning was full of threats and the circle began to change…’Course I’m frightened. Who wouldn’t be?’”(Golding 100). This illustrates how Ralph openly admits to the fear he feels inside of him. The boys start to lean away from Ralph and turn to Jack for orders, because he is the brave one in their eyes. Shifts in the island appear whenever separate groups form. Although Ralph is open and honest with the fear he feels, Jack tends to hide it and use fear to his advantage. Additionally, fear arises in Jack’s new tribe; they were“shaken, as if blown by wind. The chief saw the effect of his words and stood abruptly”(Golding 161). This proves how hiding his own fear and pretending to be fearless has gained him popularity. Jack had made it apparent who was the braver, stronger leader. Ralph made the rules, yet fear drove them to listen when Jack was saying