Nicole DeMeo Persuasive Essay 10/12/01
Chief Jack
Don’t you think we should have someone with a little experience lead everyone? Well in Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, Ralph is now the leader. Originally, it was a good idea for Ralph to have been the leader because no one liked Jack. Now that Ralph is starting to think of himself as more of a person he likes, he is becoming less appealing to others. Jack is the leader of the choir, which shows his leadership qualities, he is aggressive in the way that will get things done, and he already has respect from the kids.
The leader of the choir isn’t the best way to win over the fact that you know how to lead people and take control, but it’s a start. Jack shows that he wants to lead everyone and that he is ready to take authority when he says, "we’ll have rules. Lots of rules."( 33) People must have voted him to lead them in singing, so why not in another field? He is also the leader of the hunters. It might just be that he is the most violent of the group, but sometimes people need that. " Jack swung back his right arm and hurled the spear with all his strength." (49) If people are scared of someone, it might make then get things done more. It might also make the outcome better. Nervousness is known for making people strive. When people are scared of someone or something it motivates them. "If there’s a beast, we’ll hunt it down! We’ll close in a beat and beat and beat-!" (91) So actually, having Jack be mean is kind of a good thing. Because of Ralph’s new look on things, he is going to become mean but in a worse way. People wont want to listen to someone that is full of themselves, they will want to listen to someone who will help motivate them and get things done. They will come to realize that Jack is a true leader and he is the one that will help them survive.
Jack is very aggressive! He likes to get things done. "I’d like to catch the pig first." (53) Weather it be by physical force or words, he is going to get what he wants. Use the pig for example. Jack didn’t kill it at first because he might have been scared, or still civilized, but after a while he did. "He snatched his knife right out of his sheath and slammed it into a tree trunk. Next time there will be no mercy."( 31) He had to prove to himself and to others that he can get things done, and he did. For that, he has become the leader of the hunters. Even though having meat is a luxury, they will come to need it in the long run and Jack will be able to get it. Don’t you think it’s a little weird that Ralph all of a sudden is becoming more aggressive? Why, when he has everything going for him, would he want to change and risk losing his place as chief? He is trying to be more like Jack! He is more aggressive and in the train of thought to hunt. "I hit him, and the spear stuck in a bit." (113) Why would the leader want to be like someone who isn’t the leader unless that person is more qualified than they are? Ralph is probably starting to realize that Jack has good reasons for his actions and is starting to think that they are good ideas and that he should follow him. In a way, Ralph is telling himself that Jack should be the chief because Ralph is already starting to follow in his footsteps.
Jack obviously has respect from the kids because he was chosen to be the leader of the choir. Now, even though people might not like him because he might be mean, he is still respected. "I’m chief. I was chosen." (91) People listen to him. It could be because they have to or because they know that he is right. Either way, it’s a good reason. Adults might have chosen Jack to lead the choir because they felt that he was mature enough and because they trusted him. Why else would you want someone one to lead people? There are no adults on the island. The children have to choose for themselves who they think will be able to get them saved. They have chosen Ralph in the past, now its time to chose Jack, for the future. "Piggy’s right Ralph. There’s only you and Jack." (94) He has shown that he will do almost anything to prove a point to people. He has shown that he can lead people and help them out to trouble. His choir stands by him. They walk together and dress alike. "A party of boys marching in step in two parallel lines. Each boy wore a square black cap with a silver badge on it." (19) Jack tells them what to do, and they listen, if they did not respect him, why would they listen to him?
After reading this book, and after you have read this essay you will obviously see how and why Jack is much more qualified to be the leader. As of now though, Ralph is still the leader and the children have not yet realized that Jack is a better choice. Soon enough, they will. It’s just a matter of time. Ralph is not working out as being the leader, so something needs to be fixed. Something will be fixed.