Amanda6

     William Golding's Lord of the Flies presents original ideas and conflicts. Golding's main theme is, "�an attempt to trace the defects of society back to the defects of human nature," (Golding 204). Ralph and Jack demonstrate two examples of these defects. Both of these young, British schoolboys are trapped on the same island, but they do not show the same human nature.
      Both Ralph and Jack experience having to deal with the other boys. Ralph politely listens to other's opinions, and takes them into consideration. He does this not just as a good leader, but out of respect. He gives all of the boys the same opportunity that he is given, like at one of the meetings,"�Ralph laid the conch on the trunk beside him as a sign that the speech was over," (82). Jack, on the other hand, is constantly being rude to the boys. Jack's mean character is obvious from the very beginning. He said, "You're talking too much, shut up Fatty," (21).
      Ralph and Jack are both leaders of a tribe, but their ways of leading are different. Ralph has a democracy-like government. He allows the other boys to have a say-so about the rules and their ways of life. He wants to better the tribe as a whole; if that means having to do more work and less fun, then so be it. Ralph spoke, "Look at us! How many are we? And yet we can't keep a fire going to make smoke. Don't you understand? Can't you see we ought to --ought to die before we let the fire go out?" (81). Jack's establishment revolves around the wants instead of the necessities of the tribe. He leads a dictatorship-like government. He makes the decisions, and his authority is not to be questioned. While poking Sam in the ribs with a spear Jack exclaimed, "What d'you mean by coming with spears? What d'you mean by not joining my tribe?" (182).
      Ralph and Jack both have different ways of dealing with their fear. Both of these boys are afraid of the beast. Ralph admits his fear but tries to dismiss the beast as a figment of the imagination. He speaks to the boys saying, "We've got to talk about this fear and decide there's nothing in it. I'm frightened myself, sometimes; only that's nonsense!" (82). Jack tries to convince the boys that there is nothing to fear. He later admits to the presence of a beast but reassures his ability of killing it by saying, "�If there's a beast, we'll hunt it down! We'll close in and beat and beat and
beat--," (91).
      The say Jack and Ralph deal with unfamiliar situations test their human nature. Ralph naturally strives to be a fair, just leader. After some time, he loses control and gives in to the defects of society. He tries to be good but he fails, what does this mean about his nature? Jack consistently handles his experiences in a rude, bully-like manner. He quickly loses control and gets wrapped into the web of evil. Both boys became savages, who knew no limits. Can the timing of the evil's defeat over both the characters, determine the goodness of their nature? Or is the manner in which they surrender that determines the goodness of their human nature? Ralph says regretfully, "Don't you understand, Piggy? The things we did-" (157).