Ralph in Lord of the Flies Essay Example

Ralph is the novel's protagonist, and he is confident, composed, and physically capable. Throughout the novel he is shown to be capable of running around the island with ease and blowing the conch whenever he wants to call a meeting with the other boys. Naturally, he is the ‘leader’ archetype of the group because of his abilities and accepts this responsibility without any hesitation. This is shown in the beginning of the novel when Ralph, albeit having to be instructed how to first, blows the conch he and Piggy had found. The sounding of which would symbolize both order and leadership. Unlike the other boys who had clung to the shards of their previous lifestyle, Ralph is shown to be pragmatic and exhibits no reluctance to let go of his previous way of life, adapting quickly just as a leader would, to a primitive lifestyle. Although Ralph surpasses the other boys on the island in terms of both physical strength and rank, he focuses most on being rescued and shows no interest in wanting to control others to an excessive extent. He is a rule follower who prioritizes the needs of everyone else on the island before his own selfish goals. In the novel, Ralph states that “the best thing we can do is get ourselves rescued” (Golding 53). Ralph is shown to prioritize keeping the smoke signal fire on the mountain alight and has helped construct huts on the island despite his distaste for labor, whereas the other boys are shown to run off to play anytime they do not want to do tasks they believe are too laborious, even if those tasks are essential to their survival on the island. Ralph is quick to put his ideas into action even when order on the island deteriorates and others become unwilling to assist because he wants to maximize his and everybody else’s chances of being rescued from the island, just as any leader would work relentlessly to reach their goal regardless of what hardships may try to deter them. While the other boys’ paranoia of the ‘beast’ that is on the island increases, Ralph is shown to remain sensible yet cautious. Ralph was the first of the boys to investigate the castle rock, even when they were all hesitant with fear. The author writes, “Something deep in Ralph spoke for him. 'I'm chief. I'll go. Don't argue.'” (Golding 104) What had spoken for Ralph was his instinct as a leader telling him to take control of the situation. Ralph is also shown to be understanding of the other boys’ theories on the ‘beast’ rather than trying to argue with them. This is demonstrated when Simon says, “I don’t believe in the beast” the author then goes on to describe Ralph’s response, writing that “Ralph answered him politely, as if agreeing about the weather ‘No. I suppose not.’” (Golding 105). As a leader, Ralph focuses most on trying to work together to obtain enough information to understand the situation, which would mean they would have to listen to what everyone has to say, regardless of if they agree with them or not to try and determine the possibilities. At the end of the novel Ralph is pursued by Jack and his tribe and just narrowly avoids being killed. It is at this point in the story when Ralph gains an awareness of the savagery found within the boys' characters at the exchange of his innocence and, like Simon, comes to understand that evil is universally present within everyone. Because Ralph is the last of the surviving boys who has not turned into a complete savage, we can assume that he is not only physically strong, but mentally as well, which would only make sense as both physical and mental strength would be needed for him to be a leader for the other boys as it would be the qualities they lacked most.