Self-Definition In Lord Of The Flies

Self-Definition William Golding’s Lord of the Flies uses characterization to reveal Jack’s barbaric self-definition. The author uses Jack’s thoughts, appearance, and reputation to demonstrate this claim. Jack physically reinvents his image to help him illuminate his true inner-self as a barbaric, animalistic tyrant. When Jack first explores the island, he responsibly opposes his subconscious primal urge to kill, remaining morally bound: “He tried to convey the compulsion to track down and kill that was swallowing him up…The madness came into his eyes again. ‘I thought I might kill’”(Golding 51). Jack proceeds to embrace his true uncivilized and animalistic inner-voice and still avoid the moral burden it would typically entail; Jack changes his physical appearance animalistically to reflect his inner-voice, thereby easing his
Jack believes he best fits the leadership role: “‘I ought to be chief,’ said Jack with simple arrogance”’(Golding 22). When the tribe elects Ralph, Jack tries to exploit Ralph’s poor leadership compared to his superior leadership qualification: “‘And you shut up! Who are you, anyway? Sitting there, telling people what to do. You can't hunt…’”(Golding 91). Moreover, Jack even portrays a leader’s intellect and rationality as a flaw: “’He is like Piggy. He says things like Piggy. He isn't a proper chief’”(Golding 126). Jack believes that since he successfully self-defines as the essential barbaric tyrant, he fits the position better than the mild-mannered Ralph. Interestingly, although Jack typically despises Ralph and his inadequate leadership, when Ralph shares the leadership spotlight, Jack seems satisfied: “’What do you want them to be?’…’Hunters.’ Jack and Ralph smiled at each other with a shy liking”(Golding