Samneric Characteristics In Lord Of The Flies Essay

To follow, another dangerous character trait exhibited is manipulability. Samneric are strong advocates of this trait. Sam and Eric always do what they are told. Specifically, when Ralph asks them to tend to the fire, "Jack rushed toward the twins. 'The rest are making a line. Come on!' 'But–' '–we–' 'Come on! I'll creep up and stab–' The mask compelled them." (67) they intend to stay at the fire, however, they yield to Jack since he and his needs appear superior to tending the fire. They will help him in his hunt. Because Jack commands authority over the boys, Samneric feel required to help him and follow his orders, even though he is not in charge. They are easily intimidated by Jack and abandon their fire-tending duties at his command. Equally important, they

You know how it is–' The others nodded. They understood only too well the liberation into savagery that the concealing paint brought. 'Well we won't be painted,' said Ralph, 'because we aren't savages.' Samneric looked at each other. 'All the same–'"(191). After Simon's tragic death, the two boys fear for their own lives because they remain loyal to Ralph. When Ralph leads his group to speak with Jack’s tribe about a dispute, Samneric want to paint themselves like tribe members, hoping for mercy through assimilation. Samneric look only to appease he who is in charge. They know no other way than to submit to the collective identity and will. Manipulability is a very dangerous character trait because without having an opinion for oneself and being able to stand up for what is right and just, as displayed in Lord of the Flies, Samneric became pawns for those in charge. People that are manipulable and malleable are volatile to society. These types of people are influenced by their peers to adopt certain behaviours and follow trends which, in this novel, proved to cause instability. While manipulability was very dangerous, it demonstrated that there was no immediate danger to the