Mob Mentality In Lord Of The Flies

Lord of the Flies Mob Mentality Essay
The term ‘there’s safety in numbers’ may be true to some, but when talking about mob mentality, it's often the individual who suffers most. Mob mentality is a powerful force that can cause people to act in ways they never would on their own. This is proven in the novel “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding. The story reflects on a group of privileged school boys who all survive a plane crash when trying to escape the war. They land on a deserted island and are forced to survive on their own. The boys quickly split into two groups, one is led by Ralph and the other by Jack. Ralph along with his friends, Piggy, and Samneric try to spend their time on the island wisely with the core value of being rescued. Ralph leads with his head and prioritizes order and fairness. Jack, on the other hand, is the opposite, he thrives on manipulation, violence and savagery. Jack and

Samneric are a prime example of this, as lack of will makes falling into the depths of mob mentality simple. Samneric are virtually kidnapped by Jack's Tribe as a form of retaliation for Ralph. The twins warn Ralph that Jack and Roger are planning a search to murder him and to hide, Ralph trustingly gives his location to Samneric then runs off. Warming up to Jack's mob mentality does not take long for Samneric. The two soon guide Roger and Jack to the thicket Ralph is hiding in, Jack asks, “[Ralph] meant he’d hide in there?” “Yes - yes - !’’ The twins respond with “silvery laughter” (214). They initially warn Ralph about the search, then ultimately turn to help Jack and Roger. Samneric betrays Ralph and their laughter shows their true deception. This shift in loyalty is attributed to Samneric’s susceptibility to being influenced by others and their lack of willpower. Overall, Samneric fell into Jack's mob mentality trap, and shows the ease in which individuals can be swayed by the opinions and actions of a