Lord of the Flies: Jack Character Analysis (AQA GCSE English Literature) : Revision Note

Jack takes over from Ralph as the boys’ “chief”, ruling through fear and violence; his conflict with Ralph suggests that savagery and individualism are stronger forces than democracy and morality.

Jack character summary

Why is Jack important?

As the central antagonist, Jack demonstrates how quickly even the most civilised of individuals can descend into selfish and savage behaviour; his rise to power suggests how humanity is drawn to violence at the expense of civilised social values:

• He is violent: Jack is first described as the head of a “creature” made up of choristers, setting the theme for his animalistic behaviour. He is described as “slashing” at plants, becomes obsessed with hunting and killing and he later recruits boys to his tribe through violence.

• He is individualistic: Jack prioritises his personal desires at the expense of what would be best for the group, such as when he takes his choristers hunting instead of tending the signal fire and ensuring the boys’ rescue. He also considers rules only in terms of how they benefit him (or his hunger to mete out punishment).

• He is influential: He is athletic, strong and violent, and his promise of a rule-less tribe is attractive to many of the boys on the island, as demonstrated by his dominance at the end of the novel. He even influences Ralph, who establishes the nickname “Piggy” after Jack calls Piggy fat.

Jack language analysis

From Chapter 1 onwards, Jack’s language, and the language used to describe him, highlights his alarming capacity for violence and his opposition to Ralph’s civilised order:

• Innate violence: In Chapter 1, Jack is described as “slashing” at flowers (as opposed to Simon, who admires their beauty); in Chapter 4, killing a pig feels to him like taking “a long satisfying drink”. His violence extends to his own tribe as he tortures and threatens the boys to ensure their obedience.

• Bullying and autocratic: Jack initially gives the impression of valuing rules and order, but seems especially excited at the prospect of dishing out punishment — foreshadowing his later autocratic leadership: “Then when anyone breaks 'em-”

• Represents individualism: Golding contrasts the opposing leadership styles of Jack and Ralph, especially in Chapter 5 when Jack says “Bollocks to the rules!” This statement shows how Jack considers civilisation and cooperation less appealing than “the brilliant world of hunting”.

Jack key quotes

Jack character development

Jack character interpretation

The breakdown of social order, and the triumph of evil

Golding uses Jack to show how swiftly civilised individuals will ignore rules, straining to break rules, or abuse rules for their own base desires. In Chapter 2, Jack tells the others that rules are a vital part of civilisation: “we've got to have rules and obey them. After all, we're not savages". However, it soon becomes clear that Jack is not interested in the boys behaving in a civilised way. If anything, he is eager for some to break the rules because if people don’t “obey” them, he may be able to impose discipline, or even dish out punishment. Indeed, later at the same meeting he says "we'll have rules! ... Lots of rules! Then when anyone breaks 'em —", foreshadowing his cruel torture of boys on Castle Rock who dare to defy Jack’s commands.

As the novel goes on, Jack also loses the clothing that represents civilised society, and by Chapter 4 the choral gowns and hats are discarded, and Jack has long hair and fewer clothes. He even paints on a “mask” which frees him from the “shame and self-consciousness” of society — and the members of his tribe follow suit. The boys’ appearance is a metaphor for their turn towards savagery, and away from the trappings (neat appearance, short hair) of civilisation.