Character sketches Ralph and Jack

Ralph Ralph, the protagonist, is a young twelve-year-old English boy; he’s got average with an average “athletic” structured body to go with it. He had fair blonde hair and he was described with being “Built like a boxer” and when the boys were voting for leader that… “There was a stillness about Ralph as he sat that marked him out; there was his size, and attractive appearance..." Throughout the first few chapters of the book it really shows why he is elected leader and what type of character he is. When he is being elected leader of the group he out votes Jack and still appoints him leader of the hunters, showing that he tries to keep things fair and that he cares for other characters feelings. When he figures out what has happened and figures out how to call everyone with the conch shell he immediately jumps into action with Piggy. This shows he wants to get things organized and figure out the situation and get it done, presenting his leadership characteristics. Ralph tends to go with the civilized humane instinct in chaotic situations as opposed to Jacks savage response in such situations. For example when things start to get a little to hectic about discussing things in meetings Ralph suggests whoever is holding the conch shell speaks, and only them; showing care for rules and respecting others. Although Ralph being the most level headed boy out of all when it comes to savagery, he unfortunately experiences the lust for barbarism when hunting for the pig. At the end of the novel when rescued by the naval officer he cries because of what he has experienced and been through. Jack Jack, the antagonist, is a young English boy, about the same age as Ralph; although represents the exact opposite of Ralph in the novel. Hes taller then most of the other boys, although described skinny and ugly. His face is freckled and he has orange hair that grows out to long faded fair sandy hair throughout the novel. From the beginning of the novel it seems that Jack has a very big ego and a lot of angry feelings built up inside of him. When he meets Ralph it immediately makes his anger worse because of someone being some sort of high superior then him doesn’t mesh with his military controlling like attitude. Throughout the book Jack constantly disagrees with Ralph and thinks he should have been voted leader. Jack uses the “beastie” to control everyone and starts to drive the group to savagery and slowly lures most of the boys on to his side and organizes to rebel against the current leader, Ralph. Once he has his tribe and turns his tribe against Ralphs group he soaks in the power he has and paints his face and makes the boys on his side as servants if they weren’t hunters. After Jack had lead the boys to the killing of Simon and Piggy, he sends them into a mass frenzy to hunt down Ralph but ironically saves him by setting the island on fire, making ships from afar able to see there was civilization stranded on the island. Jack represents the evil and darkness that can come out within human beings, opposed to Ralphs civilized instincts.