Lord of the Flies
by William Golding
Table of Contents
Ralph
Little is known of any of the boys outside of their actions as they are depicted on the island. Ralph, however, provides a few glimpses of what life was like in England at his home. These glimpses occur only after Ralph has learned a few hard lessons while chief of the island, as these lessons have prompted him to look inward. His use of memory, intellect, and will mark him as one who is attempting to urge his soul upward in order to transcend the disastrous situation in which he has found himself. He remembers his home; he tries to reason how he might best help himself and the others to return to that home; and he pushes himself to achieve his goal in the face of antagonism and opposition.
In this sense, Ralph grows as a character. If he begins as a somewhat self-centered, fun-loving, naturalistic youth, he matures into a compassionate, humble standard bearer of order and decency. Ralph may not understand the transcendental truths that are the foundation to any ordered society, but he is able to understand that Jack’s savage submission to the Lord of the Flies is the worst thing that the boys could possibly do.
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