My Lord of the Flies Persuasive Essay

George Herbert once said, "There is a great force hidden in a gentle command." Some of the world's greatest leaders have been weak in outward show, people with powerful minds and not too much force in physicality or manner. Napoleon Bonaparte, who created the largest Western Empire of his time, was under five feet in height. Franklin D. Roosevelt, one of America's greatest Presidents, was confined to a wheelchair due to his falling ill to polio as a child. As Herbert stated, a leader can be very powerful and efficient without being strong, appealing, or commanding. The character Piggy, in the book Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, has the most potential to be a wise, successful leader of the group. Piggy comes up with creative, logical ideas. He serves as a father-figure for the littl'uns, and he goes about things in an orderly fashion, insuring that things are done well and benefit the boys on the island. Piggy is not the most appealing boy, but in his brilliant mind lies the capacity to lead the boys
to survival and a peaceful existence.

Piggy's presence is not the most commanding, however, at a deeper glance, he possesses the much more valuable qualities of bright ideas and common sense. When Ralph first encounters Piggy he sees him as follows; "The naked crooks of is knees were plump… He was shorter than the fair boy, and very fat. He came forward, searching out safe lodgments for his feet, and then looked up through thick spectacles." Although the boys never know his real name, and call him "Piggy," it is the fat boy who asks each boy his name as they arrive. It is Piggy who instructs Ralph to blow the conch and call the others saying, "I expect we'll want to know all their names, and make a list. We ought to have a meeting." Piggy uses his sense and his knowledge of the importance of good reasoning to guide the boys throughout the novel. When fear of the beast banishes the boys from the mountaintop, Piggy is the only one who can come up with a solution to the problem of the absence of the signal fire. .............. Clearly, without Piggy's creative and logical mind, the boys would miss out on many pivotal ideas necessary for their survival.

Beyond his assistance in being the brains behind the group, Piggy is the sole nurturer of the boys. The littl'uns, far away from a father or mother, are cared for by Piggy. Unlike all the other big'uns, Piggy looks after the children, knowing that their growing up in this environment could be dangerous to their developement. Piggy gets to know each child from the beginning. He tries to encourage the other big'uns to become father figures to the littl'uns as well. When the boys light the fire, Piggy is the only one who notices that the boy with the birthmark has gone, and scolds everyone for not watching out and keeping track of the young, carefree boys. Without Piggy for a guardian, the littl'uns would be let completely loose, and in danger for their lives. Piggy is the thread taht weaves all parts of the group together, by having concern for even the smallest individual.

Although Piggy cannot physically enforce his ideas very thoroughly, he will always speak his piece and insure that things are done in an orderly fashion. It does not take a large voice to make the voice of reason. "I got the conch, I got the right to speak," he states to the assembly of boys (44). Piggy does indeed voice his opinions, calming the instincts of fear and hatred among the impulsive boys to facilitate compromise and organization. When the boys imagine and speak about a terrible beast, Piggy attempts to calm the terror and stop the fear..................... Piggy counsels Ralph throughout the book on how to deal with Jack firmly without pushing him over the edge, keeping a civil, cooperative relationship between the boys for as long as possible....... The society depends on Piggy to preserve democracy and peace, using his knowledge and sense to create a stable community.

The quickest, most attractive option is not always the best one. The boys, judging Piggy based on his appearance, demonstrate in that action their need for his thought-out approach for the boys. Not seeking to show off his power or luxuriate in his position, Piggy would be a leader concerned about the welfare of the group. Piggy is constantly observing the situation, looking for new solutions and ideas. He shows his deep concern for others in his care for the littl'uns, believing that even those who are not of age to work deserve attention and the same open ears he holds to the entire group of boys. Piggy voices reason itself, bringing the boys back from the distractions of emotion, pleasure, and impulse to go about things orderly, as one communicative society. Piggy is no muscle man. He is the eyes, ears, and mouth of the group, creating with his influence on the boys a highly functional, civilized community. If the group were led by Piggy, he would illustrate plainly, that it is not brawn, but brains that can successfully rule.