Fear in Lord of the Flies
Fear is a natural characteristic that each individual possess, fear plays a big role in every human beings life and judgement no matter what the fear is. In the novel, Lord of the Flies, William Golding shows that fear can be used very powerfully, and can transform people from civil to savages. The main cause of fear on the island is Jack Merridew. In the beginning Jack is extremely jealous that Ralph is chief, it seems that Jacks only aspiration is to become chief. In a struggle to achieve this status he intimidates and manipulates the younger boys by instilling fear in them. Jack abuses the power of fear countless times in his fight for authority. He paints his face, uses fear in his favour, and provides all their needs. Fear is the overall power that Jack possesses and uses to his advantage in the novel.
The boys begin to fear Jack when he smears himself with blood and mud.
[Jack] looked in astonishment no longer at himself but at an awesome stranger. He split the water and leapt to his feet excitedly. Beside the mere, his sinewy body help up a mask that drew eyes and appalled them.(63-64) Jacks ferocious and creature-like manners terrify the boys and persuade them to start concentrating on Jack instead of Ralph. The message established in the boys through Jack display sent a clear message that Jack was to be feared. It was better to be his friend than his foe.
The mask also conceals Jacks uneasy side, the side of him he fears, and releases a side of him with no regrets. With Jacks developed side, he begins to think about swaying the boys and having authority. Jack, his face smeared with clays, reached the top first and hailed Ralph excitedly, with lifted spear. I cut the pigs throat, said Jack proudly, and yet twitched as he said it. [...] There were lashings of blood, (69). Fear surrounds Jack and prompts him to kill the pig illustrating the stranger side of him that he is converting into. Jack gossips about the beast to startle the boys, but he is the beast himself.
Jack operates the concept of the beast to scare the boys and also to let them know that he is the only one who can protect them. At first it seems as though he is trying to make them feel better, and describe how the beast does not exist, but after Jack realizes that the beast might possibly exist and this can be used to scare the boys, he continues to bring up the beast and how he can protect them from it. Things are breaking up. I dont understand why. We began well; we were happy. And then- [Ralph] moved the conch gently, looking beyond them at nothing, remembering the beastie, the snake, the fire, and the talk of fear. Then people started getting frightened.[] [Jack has] got the conch. Im not talking about the fear. Im talking about the beast. Be frightened if you like. But as for the beast, Am I a hunter or am I not?(82-83)
As Jack continues to offer protection from the beast while Ralph does not, the boys slowly turn towards Jacks leadership rather then Ralphs. To put their minds at ease but still under on the impact of Jack, he presents a gift to the beast, a pigs head. This head is for the beast. Its a gift, (137). The boys have confidence that the donation of the pigs head will fulfil the beast, and have faith in Jack enough to accompany him and agree with his decisions to come. To conclude his control, Jack Merridew strives to attain the boys wants.
Merridew utilizes the boys desires and needs in the course of the meeting where he and Ralph struggle for control. This last assembly leads to the separation of the boys into Jacks tribe the savages and Ralphs tribe the civilized. I gave you food and my hunters will protect you from the beast [] Wholl join my tribe and have fun?(150-151). By contributing fun, food, and protection to the boys; their exact desires, and at the same occasion pulling down Ralph, Jack clarifies to the boys why they should join his tribe. In addition, Jack intellectually suggests a life with the absence of fear to the boys. But even if they do not fear the beast, they will still fear Jack himself. Jack succeeds his lust for power and control but proceeds to put fear into the boys to retain them on his side.
As soon as Jack receives control over the majority of the boys using fear, he fastens it with the robbery of Piggys specs. The chief led them, trotting steadily exulting in his achievement. He was chief now in truth; and he made stabbing motions with his spear. From his left hand dangled Piggys broken glasses, (168). The severity of the stealing of Piggys glasses builds up the boys fears of Jack resulting in them following him instead of Ralph. Im scared of him, and thats why I know him. If youre scared of someone you hate him but you cant stop thinking about him. [] He hates you too, Ralph.[] You got home over the fire; and the chief and he isnt. But hes, hes Jack Merridew!(93) The boys may not necessary like Jack, but they follow him out of fear.
Jacks name establishes the emotion of fear, which separates him from the other leaders like Simon, Piggy, and Ralph. Even to be disliked by Jack was something to fear. Jack even made the boys take part in his untamed and disrespectful savage chanting and manners. It increases from acting out the scene from the killing of the pig to crazy actions and later to the death of Simon. This demonstrates his true power over the boys and how he can use fear to get them to do what he wants. Suddenly Jack bounced out from the tribe and began screaming wildly. See? See? Thats what youll get! I meant that! There isnt a tribe for you anymore! The conch is gone- (181). The fear eventually led to the boys murdering Simon.
Jack manifests to be the principal reason for fear on the island originating by his vicious and ferocious savagery incorporating the painting of his face, and his desire for dominance and leadership of the boys. Jack Merridew realizes he can only complete power over the boys by inducing fear into them. Before Jack can scare the boys, he needs to overcome his own fear. He uses a mask to get rid of his civility that he was raised with. Jack started out civilized only hungry for leadership but soon turned into a savage and yearned for control, no longer allowing anybody to stand before him and transforming himself into something to be feared on the island.
Works Cited
Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. New York: New York, 1954.
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