Sunday, January 12, 2014

What are adjectives that can describe Ralph in Lord of the Flies?

I believe that Ralph changes drastically during his stay
on the island. He does not start out as mature--in fact, every time he becomes excited
about being alone on a "good island" without adult supervision, he can't even find the
words to express himself, so he stands on his head to express his enthusiasm, which is
quite immature.


He is
certainly not accepting and tolerant at the beginning,
either, as he appears to be quite prejudicial against the
fat boy with thick specs named "Piggy." He tries to sneak away from Piggy at first, but
then, realizing that Piggy will not be left behind, Ralph
grudgingly puts up with his company. After Piggy asks Ralph
not to tell the others of his humiliating nickname, Ralph goes right ahead and tells
them anyway (again displaying the immaturity he arrives with on the island).
Noble at this point is out of the
question.


Ralph tries to be
somewhat responsible up to a point, but he's not that
interested in responsibility--that is Piggy's forte. A list is supposed to be made of
all the kids on the island, but it does not come to fruition. Then there is the fire on
the mountain, and the boy with the mulberry birthmark is killed--and they can only
account for his death because of the noticeable birthmark. This is when Ralph takes a
more serious turn.


As the other kids lose their sense of
civilization, Ralph tries more and more to be responsible and
noble
, even though he, too, at times, lapses, such as in the killing of
Simon.


The traitorous and violent turn that Jack takes
makes Ralph very fearful for the boys who are still on his
side and for himself, especially at the end when he is being hunted. As they are
rescued, this fear has its catharsis in the weeping that Ralph is finally able to give
in to.

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