Luma Makawi

November 14, 2016

English 9

Garrett Hartwig

Jack: A Better Leader Than Ralph

A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way (Maxwell). This

quote applies to Jack from Lord of the Flies. In Lord of the Flies a plane crashes on a mysterious

island filled with British boys ranging from ages six to twelve. Two boys are killed, one goes

missing, and Jack and Ralph are always competing for leadership. While Ralph tries to get all the

kids to work together to build shelters and make fires. Jack provides food for the kids (biguns

and littluns) on the island, and he knows how to survive. Jack is a better and more productive

leader than Ralph.

Jack provides food to all of the kids multiple times throughout the book. For example,

after he left the group to form his own tribe, he offered food for everyone that did not join his

tribe too. The text reads, Tonight we're having a feast. Weve killed a pig and weve got meat.

You can come and eat with us if you like (Golding 140). This is one way Jack proved to be a

good and productive leader.

After Jack kills the pig, he beheads it. Then he tells Roger to sharpen a stick at both ends

so end is in the ground. On the other end, Jack rams the pigs head on to the stick. Jack provides

the answer to the question they all have by saying, This head is for the beast. Its a gift

(Golding 137). Jacks thinking is by leaving food for the beast the beast will not come for them.

This shows that he knows how to survive and that he is a better leader than Ralph.

Start by doing whats necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the

impossible (Francis of Assisi). This quote applies to Jack because he tries to kill Ralph at the

end. He feels that this is necessary because he does not want any members of his tribe to go back

to Ralph and because of his long-held grudge. Leaders like Jack will continue to be leaders
because they think on their feet and knows what is best for their team. Throughout the book, Jack

Proves that he is a better and more productive leader than Ralph.