The Change in Jack in Lord Of The Flies

“In every man’s heart there is a devil, but we do not know the man as bad until the devil is roused”. This quote from Sigmund Freud shows us that evil can at times constitute the actions and consequences reflecting mankind’s impulsive and vindictive instincts. The book ‘Lord Of The Flies’ by William Golding illustrates the idea that in a state of nature, humans can default to their inherent malicious instincts and create a chaotic and dangerous society where no order, structure and rules are apparent.

With Golding’s underlying theme that human society is inherently malicious without rules, structure and order and that evil resides within, the character Jack Merridew is vividly represented by these themes in his transformation from a civilised British boy to a barbaric savage. The character Jack at first appeared to still uphold the rules, structure and order that human society had instilled in him. However, these important values he learnt slowly decay and bring into play a savage tribe that he creates, due to Ralph’s failure as a leader.

He at first is not the prime leader, but slowly overthrows the ‘chief’ by manipulating the other kid’s into his dictatorial mindset. This is done through the concept of the beast. Golding symbolises that evil and savagery exist within humanity, but Jack uses the beast in his tribe as the common enemy, idol and system of beliefs, due to the children not fully accepting the impression and thought of the terrifying beast (stating he will protect them from the beast).

The quote on page 113, “Bollocks to the rules, we are strong! states that Jack is becoming more authoritative and powerful, while the protagonist (Ralph) is becoming more submissive and doubtful in his views. So also, the argument about either hunting or building huts on the beach in chapter 5 further states that his strong and influential opinion of a confident leader, that impacted on the community. With Jack becoming the primary leader in the latter, the power that he possessed made him evil and corrupt, and influenced the entire society to digress from rules and order that civilisation had implanted in them.

Jack’s ghastly violence is mainly portrayed through his obsession of hunting, bringing out his devilish tendencies that are within and creating savage urges that make him act in a cannibalistic manner. At the start of the book, he has great difficulty to kill a piglet caught in creepers due to his stronghold on norms of civilisation, but the norms of civilisation slowly dwindle upon him and his true merciless and vindictive instincts emerge. The quote on page 62 “Jack was bent double, uncomfortable on all fours, he breathed in gently, his frustration seemed bolting and nearly mad” displays his enthusiasm and keenness about hunting.

This evolvement is essentially because of the island’s atmosphere, which engulfed him making him gradually become a sinister monster. He also paints his face like a barbarian and recites chants. His violent behaviour is then influenced onto the society and is shown in the reenactment of Robert as the wild boar that they try to hunt. Golding implies that man’s nature towards civilisation will change to an innate drive to savagery, no matter how strong one’s soul is. With his malicious instincts and merciless attitude, he then starts to inflict vicious pain towards people.

The quote on page 168 “Then Jack found the throat and the hot blood spouted over his hands, lugging out the hot bags of coloured guts” shows Jacks’ ferocious and malicious actions, he has fully transformed into a savage; all emotions and feelings of remorse vanished, no conscientious about killing, civilisation extinct. The death of Simon and Piggy, also resembles how human nature can be malevolent and sinful. Jack had no penitence to what he had done for killing had become second nature for him.

We as the readers are positioned to view Jack as a boy who fully transforms from a civilised British boy to an impulsive savage. Golding brings across themes that human society can turn malice when no rules, order and structure are apparent, and that evil resides within mankind; making none of us escapable from it. Through the use of the character Jack Merridew it illuminates to us that evil exists and flows within, and fears us what can run riot, and harm others. Humans are intrinsically violent animals, and when located in a non-civilised location, volatile instincts can arise.