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Lord Of The Flies Jack Symbolism Essay

Jack is the symbol of evil. Being determined may not sound evil, but the actions of Jacks ambitious persona has had malicious outcomes. As Jack and Ralph are coming up with expectations for the group, Jack says, “we’ve got to have rules and obey them. After all, we’re not savages. We’re English, and the English are best at everything. So we’ve got to do the right things. ” (42). Jack is determined to enforce rules, but after a while, he becomes rebellious and starts doing whatever he wants which is hunting. All Jack cares about is himself, and even though he is willing to establish rules, they will not apply to him.

Jack has been blinded with savagery and he will do everything in his power to fulfill his own interests. When Jack calls for a reelection, everyone votes for Ralph again and Jack is upset, “I’m going off by myself. He can catch his own pigs. Anyone who wants to hunt when I do can come too. ” (127). In this event Jack has been humiliated once again, but he is not giving up until Jack achieves his way. Jack is determined to form his own tribe where hunting is the main priority, but Jack can’t do that when he is under the rule of Ralph.

He is tired of having to follow Ralphs orders, and he nows he will make an excellent chief, but he doesn’t realize that there’s more to being a leader than having everyone hunt for wild boars. Jack is obsessive about obtaining fire to have a feast so he plans to steal Piggy’s glasses, “The chief led them, trotting steadily, exulting in his achievement. He was a chief now in truth; and he made stabbing motions with his spear. From his left hand dangled Piggy’s broken glasses. ” (168). Jack was eager to acquire Piggy’s glasses, but in a terrible way.

Instead of asking to borrow them, he planned to attack Ralph’s clan leaving them, frightened and injured. He didn’t care what the outcomes were as long as he attained what he wanted. Jack is an ambitious young man; cruel, but he knows what he wants even if it will cost him. Jack is a violent and lashes out his anger on others for simple reasons. Jack and his tribe are hunting a wild boar in the forest, “The spear moved forward inch by inch and the terrified squealing became a high-pitched scream. Then Jack found the throat and the hot blood spouted over his hands.

The sow collapsed under them” (135). He didn’t even think twice before slitting the pig’s throat. Hunting has brought out the savage side f Jack which urges him to slaughter other living creatures. His sensitive emotions have temporarily flown out the window and his cruel personally has barged through the door. Jack has serious anger issues. He was upset with Wilfred without giving a solid reason as to why he was mad, “I don’t know. He didn’t say. He got angry and made us tie Wilfred up. He’s been-he giggled definitely-he’s been tied for hours, waiting. ” (159).

Now, even the slightest mistake will set off Jack. He is in control and if he says to have someone tied up or killed they will do it. Why? He is violent and intimidating and no one wants to question his uthority. Jack is a stick of dynamite that is waiting to be lit. During the confrontation about Piggy’s glasses, “Jack made a rush and stabbed at Ralph’s chest with his spear. ” (177). Boy is this young child aggressive. Jack doesn’t even want to have a proper conversation with Raph. He wants to approach the situation with violence; long gone are those choir boy manners.

What happened to the Jack who said they weren’t savages? His dominating and aggressive demeanor have gotten to his head, he has clearly gone power-mad. Jack is no longer a sweet and polite young man, he is fierce and belligerent. Jack is negligent towards important situations. It was Jack’s tribe responsibility to maintain the fire but he let it go out, “There was a ship. Out there. You said you’d keep the fire going and you let it out! ” (70). Jack could care less about the fire and being rescued. He is unsupervised and he wants to do whatever he wants and that involves hunting.

The thought of being rescued is slowly slipping out of his mind. He is creating a new home on the island where the main activity is to hunt for food and pleasure. Jack is breaking the rules and Raph is frustrated with him, “The rules! “Shouted Ralph. You’re breaking.. the rules! “.. “Who cares! “.. We’re strong-we hunt! ” (91). Jack no longer feels that rules are necessary. He is a savage after all and they don’t don’t have to follow rules. He even sees the conch as useless. He even starts forgetting about the hunt for the beast.

His mind has been wiped of everything but one purpose and that is hunting. Ralph is doing all the work while Jack is off in his own land, “Been working for two days now. And look! ” Two shelters were in position, but shaky. This one was a ruin. ” (50). Jack has no intentions of helping Ralph whatsoever. He is failing o take care of things that are more important than hunting. He has many responsibilities, but he isn’t paying attention to any of them. That is why he decides to form his own tribe. He is tired of the responsibilities that Ralph is putting on him.

Jack fails to care for important matters. Jack is a deranged child that needs to be brought back to civilization. Jack is so mesmerized with the idea of hunting that, “If Jack was chief he’d have all hunting and no fire. We’d be here till we died… ” (93). This is how crazy jack is about hunting. He is so focused on killing, that he doesn’t realize sooner or later here won’t be nothing to kill. Then what would he do? He would have no choice but to leave the island or worse die there. Hunting may provide food, but the fire can provide rescue.

After Jack’s tribe killed the big boar, “Jack stood up, holding out his hands. ” “Look. ” He giggled and flicked them while the boys laughed at his reeking palms. Then Jack grabbed Maurice and rubbed the stuff over his cheeks… ” (135). Blood has no effect on Jack at all. He is mad and he thinks the poor boar’s blood is a funny sight. he has brainwashed the other children making them believe that this is all one big game, but it’s not. Jack obviously doesn’t want want to be rescued since the island is all his to explore.

After Jack’s first hunt, Simon gave his piece of meat to Piggy but jack was furious, “Jack leapt to his feet, slashed off a great hunk of meat, and flung it down at Simon’s feet. “Eat! Damn you! ” He glared at Simon. ” (74). Jack is going crazy just thinking about having someone cross his boundaries. Simon does that by giving Piggy (whom Jack dislikes) his piece of meat because Jack didn’t give any to Piggy. Jack needs to live in civilization again in order to go back to normal or at least try to before he goes crazy.

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