How does the character ‘Jack’ change in Golding’s ‘Lord of the Flies’ ?

“I was just waiting for a moment to decide where to stab him.” Jack is seen here as still being ruled by civilisation. He is unable to kill ‘because of the enormity of the knife descending… The unbearable blood.’ What change takes place after his first successful hunt?

“it’s like in a book” The reference to children’s books illustrate the adventure and excitement of fiction at the time. Golding uses the experiences of the boys to show how unrealistic these adventure stories were.

Being British Many writers from the early 20c tended to promote qualities seen as being characteristically ‘British’. Honesty, bravery, stiff upper lip, adventurous Golding shows how easily these virtues turn to savagery. Remember that in normal life back in England Jack Merridew would have represented order and all that was ‘best of British virtue’.

“I agree to do the right things” Compare Jack’s beliefs here with his behaviour later in the novel. Jack denies Piggy the right to speak, in contrast, Ralph supports Piggy’s claim because he has the conch. Is Jack showing signs of wishing to be a dictator? Does Ralph believe in democracy? Does Jack say one thing then do another? Does Jack’s character worsen as the novel progresses, or was he in fact not very noble to start with?

After the first hunt, Jack proudly tells the others that he cut the pigs throat, and yet he ‘twitched as he said it’. What does this indicate about him? What effect would the hunter’s chanting have upon them? (think of a football crowd) At this moment, Jack and Ralph are worlds apart in both experience and emotion. Jack is jubilant after his first hunt success, Ralph is despairing because of the lost chance of rescue. How important is rescue to Jack?

“Piggy’s glasses flew off and tinkled on the rocks”. Piggy’s glasses symbolise understanding and reason (he sees things clearly) The success of the hunt releases Jack from civilisation, he allows himself to give in to his aggressive tendencies. Both Piggy and Ralph accuse him of being irresponsible but he only hits Piggy. What does the breaking of one lens signify? One possible interpretation is that it symbolises the beginning of the loss of reasonable behaviour on the island.

Is Jack an atavist? This is someone who reverts to the behaviour and attitude of their distant ancestors. Do the other boys also become atavists when they see Jack as the more powerful leader and provider? What evidence is there that tells you this? Atavism – the process of degeneration back to the behaviour and attitudes of distant ancestors. (hunters / survival of the strongest/ animalistic savagery)

Skim and find quotes You need to track the changes in Jack’s behaviour in the novel. Find quotes to support what you are saying about him. Make your explanations detailed but don’t go overboard with just simple comments (D grade). Make your comments work for you and tease out as much meaning as possible. Look for the symbolism and deeper implications. Try to explain what Golding is saying about the veneer of civilisation. Veneer – a thin layer of high quality material covering a much larger, harsher, more basic material.