Lord of the Flies Key Theme: Power and Leadership (AQA GCSE English Literature)

Revision Note

Reviewed by: Kate Lee

The theme of power and leadership in Lord of the Flies:

Chapter	Quote	Summary
2	“And another thing. We ought to have more rules. Where the conch is, that’s a meeting” – Ralph	Ralph establishes the conch as a symbol of democracy, demonstrating his values as the elected leader of the boys
2	“We'll have rules! ... Lots of rules! Then when anyone breaks 'em-” – Jack	Jack gives the impression of valuing rules and order, but seems especially excited about giving out punishments — foreshadowing his later autocratic leadership
4	“There was the brilliant world of hunting, tactics, fierce exhilaration, skill; and there was the world of longing and baffled commonsense” – The narrator	Golding contrasts the opposing leadership styles of Jack and Ralph, suggesting that civilisation is less appealing than violence and bloodshed
10	“The chief was sitting there, naked to the waist, his face blocked out in white and red” – The narrator	Jack’s transformation into “the chief” is represented by his face paint, which hides his former identity and frees him from rules and order
11	“The rock struck Piggy a glancing blow from chin to knee; the conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist” – The narrator	Roger destroys the conch, valued by Ralph and Piggy as a symbol of civilised democracy, marking the triumph of Jack’s violent leadership

Symbolism: Golding contrasts the democracy represented by Ralph’s conch, with the tyrannical dictatorship represented by Jack’s face paint and spear
- When Jack’s chief torturer, Roger, destroys the conch, the moment represents the death of any hope for civilisation among the boys
Conflict: Golding explores power and leadership through a central conflict between Ralph’s democratic approach and Jack’s autocratic leadership, echoing the violent conflicts of the early 20th century:
- The novel begins in the apparent aftermath of a nuclear attack (the reason why the boys have been evacuated)
- The plight of the boys on the island is the result of escalating violent conflict
- Jack’s leadership leads to a fire that sweeps through the forest; the conflict with Ralph threatens to consume everyone in a microcosmic representation of real-world fears about nuclear powers

Character	Impact
Ralph	Ralph is a charismatic leader, whose size makes him a link to the adult world of authority: He is elected through democratic means (a group vote), and he and Piggy establish the conch as a symbol of democracy and authority; it allows every person a voice in the group Although Ralph shows common sense and maturity in seeking to set rules and create a sense of order among the boys, he is not above cruel or savage behaviour He is swept up in the group attack on Simon and regrets it bitterly afterwards
Jack	Jack believes he is entitled to lead because of his role as head chorister: Although Jack initially favours “English” rules, he resists Ralph’s leadership and rebels to lead his own group of hunters By wearing face-paint, he sheds the order of his former life to become a more savage and violent “chief” and imposes an autocratic rule: he punishes those who do not obey him, and sentences Ralph to death
Piggy	Piggy depends upon civilisation for survival on the island, as he is unable to contribute physically in the same ways as the other boys: His glasses become an important symbol of civilisation as they allow the possessor to make fire, cook food, and contact the outside world Jack’s mistreatment of the glasses suggests his callous disregard — both for the weaker Piggy and for Ralph’s rules and order Piggy is Ralph’s last follower; his death represents the end of any hope for civilisation on the island

Golding uses the central conflict between Ralph and Jack to represent the key theme of power and leadership.

1. Democracy vs autocracy

The island begins as a democracy in which all of the boys have a vote, and (through the conch) their voices are heard
Ralph establishes rules in which all boys work for the benefit of the entire community, such as building shelters and setting a signal fire
Jack’s autocratic leadership marks him as a violent dictator who seeks to torture and kill those who disobey him

2. The importance of rules:

Golding suggests that humans are innately selfish, and are naturally drawn to individual success over community spirit
The breakdown of the boys’ community on the island reflects Golding’s idea that civilised behaviour cannot exist without clear rules; without order and shared goals, humans descend into savagery

Try planning a response to the following essay questions as part of your revision of the theme of power and leadership:

Last updated: 15 November 2024

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