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

Ralph represents the goodness of society and is democratically elected to be the boys’ leader before Jack ousts him; Ralph’s fate suggests that savagery and individualism are stronger forces than democracy and morality.

Ralph character summary

Why is Ralph important?

As the central protagonist, readers see most of the novel through Ralph’s eyes. He can be seen to represent humanity as a whole, and is pulled between the influences of reason  (represented by Piggy) and individualism (represented by Jack):

• He has a strong moral compass: Ralph knows that the boys will only survive if they cooperate and behave in a civilised manner, “like in school”. He recognises that the collapse of the boys’ society leads to savagery and death, and Ralph is the only boy to understand that what the boys do to Simon is “murder”.

• He is a charismatic leader: His physical size and charisma make him a natural leader to the other boys, who see him as a “link with the adult world”. Because of this he is able to issue clear commands, establish rules and delegate responsibility.

• He is impressionable: Although he is a confident leader, Ralph is easily influenced by the other boys. He establishes the nickname “Piggy” after Jack calls Piggy fat, and is swept up in the ritualistic frenzy of Simon’s murder in Chapter 9.

Ralph Language Analysis

Ralph’s language reflects his public school education and his straightforward understanding of society and social order:

• Class prejudice: Ralph simply assumes that he will be a good leader on the basis of his class and background — his father is in the navy. He also instinctively thinks less of the working-class Piggy, mocking his accent: “sucks to your ass-mar”.

• Clarity of speech: Ralph’s speech is usually clear, simple and commanding, such as when he states: “We ought to have more rules. Where the conch is, that’s a meeting”. His clarity makes his imperative commands and statements (“we ought”; “we should”) seem more logical and persuasive.

• Represents civilised society: He wants the boys’ society to be “like school”, and uses his strength to foster  community via the conch shell, which gives all members of the group a voice. This distinguishes him from the individualism of boys such as Jack, who says “Bollocks to the rules!”

Ralph key quotes

Ralph character development

Ralph character interpretation

Ralph reflects man’s true nature

Ralph is our point-of-view character for much of the novel, and might be seen to represent the goodness of humanity as a whole. Although there are some darker aspects to him (such as his bullying of Piggy), he also possesses qualities that mark him as an attractive and moral individual.

Golding’s first description of Ralph emphasises that “there was a mildness about his mouth and eyes that proclaimed no devil”. He consistently attempts to do what is “right”, and repeatedly refers to the values and moral codes of English society, “like in school”. Moreover, he demonstrates a selfless spirit when, after winning the leadership vote, he allows Jack to remain in charge of his choir, who become the hunters.

By positioning Ralph as a strong, natural leader, Golding creates a sense of hope and optimism in the first part of the novel that makes the eventual collapse of the boys’ new society feel all the more tragic: it demonstrates that even the strongest of individuals can succumb to the “darkness” lurking within.