Jack-
In the the novel ‘The Lord of the Flies’ by William Golding, there are numerous characters that represent different parts of the civilization; for example Ralph and Piggy represents law and order, Simon represents humanity and kindness and Jack represents evil and violence, the dark side of human nature. A former choirmaster and “head boy” at his school, he arrived on the island having experienced some success in exerting control over others by dominating the choir with his aggressive attitude. He is very keen to make rules and punish those who break them, although he consistently breaks them himself when he needs to further his own interests.
The conflict on the island begins with Jack attempting to overthrow the group rather than working with Ralph to benefit it. He frequently undermines the power of the conch, declaring that the conch rule does not matter on certain parts of the island, but then uses the conch to his advantage when possible, such as when he calls his own assembly to criticize Ralph. For him, the conch represents the rules and boundaries that have kept him from turning into an animal. Their entire lives in the civilized world, the boys had been controlled by rules, set by society against physical aggression. On the island, however, that idea of rules fades rapidly from Jack’s mind. He quickly abandons the idea that in that world of politeness and boundaries, which is why he feels no need to keep the fire going or attend to any of the other responsibilities that the group has to do.
The dictator inside of him takes over and dominates Jack’s personality in the time of the the panic over the beast being seen on the mountain. In trying to blame Ralph, he uses his tries to twist Ralph’s words. In defense, he offers to the group a reason why hunting skills make for an effective leader, which is why “He’d never have got us meat,” . Jack put a high value on the boys who he finds useful or agreeable to his views and looks to silence those who do not please him. Boycotting the rules of order, Jack declares, “We don’t need the conch any more. We know who ought to say things.” He dictates to his hunters that they forget the beast and that they stop having nightmares.
As Jack establishes his leadership, he takes on the title of “chief” and reinforces the deception of station and power by using the other boys regularly telling the boys to raise their spears together and announce “The Chief has spoken.” This is no game to in the eyes of Jack, though; but the night of Simon’s death, Jack has clearly gone power-mad, sitting at the pig roast on a large log “painted and garlanded . . . like an idol” while “power . . . chattered in his ear like an ape.” His tribe calls him as “Chief,” indicating a form of more tribal leadership.
After been given the thrill of “irresponsible authority” he experienced on the island, Jack returns to civilization. When the naval officer asks who is in charge, Jack starts to step forward to challenge Ralph’s claim of leadership but is stopped perhaps by the recognition that now the old rules will be enforced.