What qualities make someone a good leader? In Lord of the Flies who demonstrates this role of being a leader, and how is it being displayed? A leader is someone who has the ability to take control and charge of a group. A leader is there to guide, manage, and provide assistance to a group in a specific situation. In William Golding’s novel Lord of the Flies, the character of Ralph is a good leader. He displays specific characteristics that define a good leader. By possessing the ability to show initiative, responsibility, courage and determination on the island, transforms him into the remarkable leader he is. Without Ralph’s leadership skills, the boys may have not been able to survive during their time on the island.
Ralph as the leader on the island shows much initiative. He takes a great deal of control and is usually the first to step up in a situation to benefit the safety of everyone on the island. ’You hunters! You can laugh! But I tell you smoke is more important than the pig, however often you kill one. Do all of you see?’ He spread his arms wide and turned to the whole triangle. ‘We’ve got to make smoke up there – or die.’ This quote displays how Ralph is attempting to maintain order and civilized behavior. By being the first to tell them what to do and by showing initiative and by setting goals for the boys to follow, he prepares practical plans that will help the boys get rescued. He is trying to tell them what do to help save them so they will not die. Ralph also shows an immense amount of initiative when most of the other boys are concerned with playing, having fun, and avoiding work. Ralph decides to build huts as a method of survival. For this reason, Ralph’s authority and power over the other boys are secure at the start of the novel. This expresses how Ralph has this idea, and stuck with it for the safety of him, and the others on the island. Ralph is always on the lookout for