Lord of the Flies: Handling Injustice
Critical/ Analytical Response to Literary Texts Assignment
By: Christina Caouette Every human comes to face the ugliness of injustice. The character of each individual has significant impact affecting the way they handle cases of unfairness. In the adventure novel Lord of the Flies, William Golding brings to life ideas that the self respect a character possesses will directly influence the manner he handles inequality. Belief in the worthiness and dignity of oneself causes a person to persevere holding onto his morals, even when situations are not in his favor. Jack is the egomaniacal, strong willed leader of the choir who desires power above all other things. While he is the antithesis of the protagonist, Ralph, Jack does exemplify many positive qualities. Confidence in the person he is, above all else, directs Merridew into refusing to accept when he is treated wrongfully. Under the impression that he is the most suitable for the role “because I’m chapter chorister and head boy”, Jack is extremely affronted when the position of chief is not appointed to him. Conviction that leadership rightfully belongs to him cause “the freckles on Jack’s face disappeared under a blush of mortification” when he fails to receive this honor. It feels like a knife has punctured his heart when the vote is tallied. His assertion in his skills as a leader leads him to believe that the tribe has chosen wrong. This denial of headship was a gun shooting a hole through his ego. Merridew has never failed to obtain what he desires. He is the best. Therefore he handles the upset naturally for a person who has much assurance in themselves. Pride overrides many other emotions, such as sympathy and civility, within the brain of Jack. Mastering the art of hunting is a passion that drives him daily. The initial encounter with a pig on the island leads to upset for him. Anger acquires the best of Jack when “he snatched his knife out of the sheath and slammed it into a tree trunk” as a
By: Christina Caouette Every human comes to face the ugliness of injustice. The character of each individual has significant impact affecting the way they handle cases of unfairness. In the adventure novel Lord of the Flies, William Golding brings to life ideas that the self respect a character possesses will directly influence the manner he handles inequality. Belief in the worthiness and dignity of oneself causes a person to persevere holding onto his morals, even when situations are not in his favor. Jack is the egomaniacal, strong willed leader of the choir who desires power above all other things. While he is the antithesis of the protagonist, Ralph, Jack does exemplify many positive qualities. Confidence in the person he is, above all else, directs Merridew into refusing to accept when he is treated wrongfully. Under the impression that he is the most suitable for the role “because I’m chapter chorister and head boy”, Jack is extremely affronted when the position of chief is not appointed to him. Conviction that leadership rightfully belongs to him cause “the freckles on Jack’s face disappeared under a blush of mortification” when he fails to receive this honor. It feels like a knife has punctured his heart when the vote is tallied. His assertion in his skills as a leader leads him to believe that the tribe has chosen wrong. This denial of headship was a gun shooting a hole through his ego. Merridew has never failed to obtain what he desires. He is the best. Therefore he handles the upset naturally for a person who has much assurance in themselves. Pride overrides many other emotions, such as sympathy and civility, within the brain of Jack. Mastering the art of hunting is a passion that drives him daily. The initial encounter with a pig on the island leads to upset for him. Anger acquires the best of Jack when “he snatched his knife out of the sheath and slammed it into a tree trunk” as a