Jack vs. Ralph (+ Piggy)

Today I will be blogging about the main characters because they are starting to struggle for power. I will be writing about the three main characters, Ralph, Jack, and Piggy. I will be exploring how William Golding describes these characters, what they do, say, and think.

In the beginning of the story, the author describes Piggy as the “fat boy” (page 8). Piggy’s actions show he has a passive personality and is a goody-two-shoe. Here’s an example: “The fat boy waited to be asked his name in turn but this proffer of acquaintance was not made; the fair boy called Ralph smiled vaguely, stood up, and began once more toward the lagoon. The fat boy hung steadily at his shoulder” (page 9). Piggy talks about his asthma and how he can’t run because his auntie told him not to and he seems to follow all the rules. When “the fat boy” tells Ralph his old school nick name, Piggy, Ralph starts cracking up and laughs really hard. Piggy is annoyed at first but manages a slight grin.

Golding calls Ralph the “fair boy” in comparison to Piggy. Ralph is almost the opposite of Piggy. He likes the freedom of no grown-ups. Golding describes Ralph as strong, muscular. His actions and thoughts show he does whatever he wants. “He was old enough, twelve years and a few months, to have lost the prominent tummy of childhood and not yet old enough for adolescence to have made him awkward. You could see now that he might make a good boxer, as far as width and heaviness of shoulders went, but there was a mildness about his eyes and mouth that proclaimed no devil” (page 10). He has the personality of a leader: calm, strong, and popular.

Jack is the meanest and most arrogant. He is the leader of the choir and likes the fact that he can do whatever he wants. While Piggy is telling Ralph the names he knows, Jack come up to him and says “You’re talking too much. Shut up, Fatty” (page 21). This line of dialogue shows Jack’s personality.

It may be many pages before I find out who will win, Jack or Ralph. I’m not really sure why Piggy is a main character, but I think I will find out soon enough.