Tuesday, January 17, 2012

I need a couple of things that Ralph symbolizes in Lord of the Flies.(I am making a poster, and everything on it has to be about Ralph)

In William Golding's allegory, Lord of the
Flies
, Ralph is life's golden boy, his Adam, who discovers the Garden of Eve
on the island:


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Here at last was the imagined but never fully
realized place leaping into real life.  Ralph's lips parted in a delighted smile and
Piggy, taking this smile to himself as a mark of recognistion, laughed with
pleasure.


"If it really is an
island."



Ralph
as leader


With his good looks and
confidence, Ralph embodies the naturally born leader:


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"I could swim when I was five.  Daddy taught me. 
He's a commander in the Navy.  When he get leave he'll come and rescue
us....."



He gives commands
immediately, telling Piggy, after he finishes his "baptism" as a leader in
the lagoon, to get his clothes.  He blows the conch and calls an assembly to count who
is on the island and to assert his leadership by a
vote.


Ralph as an
everyman


With his inability to command at
all the assemblies, it is apparent that there is a "cloud of imperfection" about Ralph
with whom readers can identify as he lacks charisma and is inarticulate at times, making
him a sort of everyman.  But, like Adam, Ralph has his "fall" as he becomes drawn into
the bloodlust of the hunt, an action that contributes--along with his leadership
imperfections--to the boys' descent into
savagery.


Ralph as representative of
democracy


As the leader, Ralph can also
symbolize democracy.  He is the first to find the conch, although Piggy instructs him
about its use.  He employs the conch as one would the gavel at a public forum. 
Functioning by structure and order, Ralph strives to have these societal norms on the
island and its inhabitants. He prioritizes as a democratic leader should, placing the
universal needs first, such as the rescue fire and the building of
shelters. 


Also, in the democratic spirit, Ralph tries to
protect the littl'uns and the vulnerable, such as Simon.  Unlike the despotic Jack,
Ralph is democratic in his leadership, as well.  He has his counsel, Piggy, and his
friend, Simon, whom he heeds and consults in various matters.  Ralph recognizes that
"Piggy can think" as he realizes his own shortcomings.

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