Lord of the Flies Characters Analysis
Ralph
Ralph is one of the two leading characters in the novel. He is a twelve-year-old schoolboy who is elected by all the boys to be their leader. Ralph is a civilized person who tries to lead the boys in building and maintaining an organized civilization until someone rescues them. As a character, Ralph represents the civilizing instinct inside human beings. He opposes violence and cruelty and tries to make decisions that are best for all of the boys. Ralph represents order and productive leadership. Initially, most of the boys start playing and enjoying themselves, while Ralph puts his efforts into building huts for shelter and thinking about ways to be rescued as soon as possible. At the start of the novel, Ralph has power over all of the boys and his decisions are respected. However, by the end of the novel, he has only the support of Piggy.
Jack
Jack is the other leading character in this novel, and he is the complete opposite of Ralph in personality and characteristics. Jack is one of the older boys who survived the crash. In the beginning, he is made the leader of the hunters, but he tries to take over and command complete leadership throughout the novel. At the start of the novel, he is not that barbaric and cruel, but as the novel progresses, Jack's cruelty and violence increase. Jack represents the lust for power and violence within human beings. Jack's influence on the other boys shows how the instinct of savagery takes over human beings.
Simon
Simon is one of the shy and sensitive boys in the group. He is the only character who is naturally good in this novel. Simon shows kindness to the younger boys and keeps working with Ralph on different tasks for the betterment of the community. He does not point out to others that he is working for them. Simon is deeply connected to nature, and his motivation to do things is deeply rooted in that connection. Hence, his sense of morality is because of nature, rather than being imposed by society. Simon represents natural goodness and not goodness imposed by rules and civilization.
Piggy
Piggy is an intellectual fat boy and the first person to meet Ralph on the beach. Piggy remains loyal to Ralph throughout the novel. Piggy has an innovative and creative mind, and many of his ideas are the main reason behind Ralph's successful decisions of Ralph. Piggy gives Ralph the idea of blowing the conch to call everyone. He also gives Ralph the idea to make huts for shelter and supports the idea of signaling by lighting a fire. He represents the scientific, rational, and innovative side of humanity. He is physically inferior to the other boys because he is asthmatic and overweight and has poor eyesight. He is the one who believes in order and rules, which makes him vulnerable to the attack of a violent mob.
Roger
At the start of the story, Roger is a quiet and intense older boy. As the story progresses, he becomes cruel and gains pleasure from the pain of others. At the start of the novel, he tries to terrify the younger boy, Henry, by throwing rocks and nuts at him. In the end, he throws a rock on the twins, but he misses them. He then throws a rock that hits Piggy's head and kills him. Roger becomes part of Jack's tribe because he knows it will make him powerful, as Jack also loves to commit violence. Roger also tortures Samneric.
Sam and Eric
Sam and Eric are older twin boys who are stranded on the island. They are usually referred to as Samneric. They remain loyal to Ralph throughout the novel until the end, when they reveal Ralph's because of the torture. Sam and Eric usually remain in their group of two and do all of their work together. They are also present at the time of the dance, when Simon is killed, but they never admit that they were there. When Jack starts his own tribe and all of the biguns leave Ralph's camp to join Jack, these two remain with Ralph to maintain the signal fire and to take care of the littluns. They warn Ralph about Jack's plan for his bloodshed.
The Lord of the Flies
