Jack and Ralph respond in different ways to the ''beastie''. What do their responses tell us about their character?

At first Ralph reacts with disbelief that there is a beast. Given his reasonable personality, he cannot believe a beast would live in this environment. He tries to convince others that the beast simply could not exist on the island. Jack's first response it also one of disbelief. However, he sees how he can use the fear of the beast to undermine Ralph's authority by promising the littleuns that he and his hunters will destroy the beast. Finally, Ralph must give in to the fear of the beast and organize a search party for it. Not realizing Jack's evil intentions to discredit Ralph and take over leadership himself, Ralph takes Jack along. Jack uses the trip to deride Ralph. When the boys finally do see the dead parachutist, neither Jack nor Ralph takes the time to really check out what they are seeing, showing that they are both still frightened boys and not mature men.