Safia Hassan

Ms. Martinez
Period 1
12/14/16

There are a few people who change and in “Lord of the flies” Jack changed from a

civilized human being to a violent savage. In the beginning Jack is civilized, when he can’t kill a

pig he starts getting obsessed and that’s when he goes full savage.

Jack starts off to be a civilized person. “Ralph and Jack looked at each other while

society paused about them. The shameful knowledge grew in them and they did not know how to

begin confession. Ralph spoke first, crimson in the face ‘will you?’ he cleared his throat and

went on. ‘will you light the fire’ now the absurd situation was open, Jack blushed too.” (Golding

page 54-55). Jack and Ralph both don’t know how to start a fire without matches, Jacks savagery

still hasn’t shown. Jack had the chance to kill a pig for food and when it came to it he couldn’t do

it. “They knew very well why he hadn’t: because of the enormity of the knife descending and

cutting into living flesh; because of the unbearable blood. ‘I was going to,’ said Jack. He was

ahead of them, and they couldn’t see his face. ‘I was choosing a place. Next time!” (Golding

page 41-42). This quote shows that Jack is a normal kid and can’t handle another living thing

die. As a result, of not killing the pig, this is what makes Jack obsessed and slowly turns him

savage.

He then he gets obsessed with hunting a pig. Jack feels the need to prove to the boys he

can kill a pig. “Jack his face smeared with clays, reached the top first and hailed Ralph excitedly,

with lifted spear ‘look we’ve killed a pig-we stole up on them- w got in a circle…” (Golding

page 97). Jacks obsession is over (kind of) he finally killed a pig but instead of feeling terrible
Safia Hassan
Ms. Martinez
Period 1
12/14/16

about it, he is excited and displays his achievement. “Jack planned his face… he spilt the water

and leapt to his feet, laughing excitedly beside the pool his sinewy body held up a mask that

drew their eyes and appalled them.” (Golding 89). Jack painted his face just to kill a pig, and this

mask drives him to make his own tribe because it gives him power. All in all, Jacks obsession

with killing a pig is a big reason why Jack goes savage.

Finally, Jack goes savage. “’we need meat’. Jack stood up as he said this, the blooded

knife in his hand. The two boys faced each other… Jack transferred the knife to his left hand and

smudged blood over his forehead as he pushed down he plastered hair” (Golding 100). Jack

starts thinking like a savage, what normal person wood put the blood of the animal they killed on

their forehead? Jack is slowly losing his civilized self and the savage in him is taking control.

In conclusion, Jack went from civilized to full savage. Jack when he first arrived to the

island was a normal boy, then he gets obsessed with killing a pig since he couldn’t the first time,

finally he goes savage. Jack is a more dynamic character because he shows more change in

himself than the other boys.