Student Question
In Lord of the Flies, who are three leaders that guide the boys toward destruction?
Quick answer:
In Lord of the Flies, three leaders contribute to the boys' destruction. The littlun with the mulberry birthmark introduces the "beastie," sparking irrational fear. Roger evolves from helpful to sadistic, supporting Jack's violent leadership and killing Piggy. Jack is the primary instigator, rejecting Ralph's order, forming a violent tribe, and exploiting fear to incite savagery. Samneric also contribute by abandoning the fire and mistakenly confirming the "beast," leading to Simon's death.
There are several characters throughout the novel Lord of the Flies that
lead the boys on the island toward destruction. The first character to bring up
the idea of the "beastie" is the littlun with the mulberry
birthmark. His character is significant to the destruction on the
island because the idea of the "beastie" is the catalyst for irrational fear
which perpetuates amongst the boys. He is also the first casualty of the
island. His accidental death foreshadows the deaths of Simon and Piggy later on
in the novel. His death and belief in the "beastie" has an immense
psychological impact on the boys. The reality that death is a possibility on
the island, coupled with their irrational fear of a beast lead toward their
eventual destruction.
Roger is another character who leads the boys on the island toward destruction. At the beginning of the novel, Roger is a...
Unlock This Answer Now
Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
helpful boy who makes valid suggestions, such as voting to choose a leader. As the novel progresses, Roger becomesJack's right-hand man. Roger supports Jack's
tyrannical leadership and promotes brutality on the island. Roger becomes a
sadist who takes pleasure in harming others. Roger is an advocate for violence
and his intimidating presence forces many of the boys to obey and participate
in Jack's barbarism. Roger also kills Piggy, which is the anticlimactic moment
when all hope and civility is lost on the island. His character is instrumental
in the boys' destruction on the island.
Jack is obviously the main catalyst that leads the boys toward
destruction in the novel. Jack is the first to rebel against Ralph's democratic
leadership and forms his own tribe of brutal hunters. Jack is the first to
neglect the conch which is a symbol of civility and structure throughout the
novel. He promotes violence and encourages the boys to become savages. Jack
uses the irrational fear of the beast to motivate his tribe to partake in
violence. Jack is void of morality and commands his tribe to hunt Ralph at the
end of the novel.
In Lord of the Flies, who leads the boys to destruction?
I feel that the littlun with the mulberry-colored birthmark is
responsible for the destruction of the boys because he perpetuates fear amongst
them. In Chapter Two, the littlun with the mulberry-colored birthmark asks
Ralph what he is going to do about the "snake-thing." The littlun claims that
the "beastie" came in the dark and will return that night. Ralph denies the
existence of any "beastie" and dismisses it as just a nightmare. However,
mentioning the "beastie" initiates fear throughout the group of boys. One of
the many themes throughout the novel deals with how irrational fear can result
in the collapse of reason, structure, and morality. The boys become plagued by
the fear of an unknown beast, and take drastic measures to feel safe. Jack uses
this fear to boost the status of his hunters as "protectors," and Simon loses
his life after being mistaken for the beast. This fear gradually possesses each
of the children and drives the majority of the boys towards savagery.
Jack is obviously instrumental in leading the boys towards destruction. Jack usurps power and persuades the majority of the boys to join his tribe. Jack's tribe encourages violence, savagery, and immorality. Jack is indirectly responsible for the deaths of Simon and Piggy, and attempts to murder Ralph. Jack is a heartless tyrant who has no regard for morals or authority. The boys who follow Jack are brainwashed and become barbarians who value violence and carnal passions.
Samneric are partially responsible for the destruction of the boys on the island. They abandon the fire, which goes out, as a ship passes the island. The ship could have possibly rescued the boys. If the boys were rescued, then Simon and Piggy would still be alive, and they would not have descended into barbarism. They also claim that they saw the beast, which was actually a dead paratrooper, and are indirectly responsible for Simon's death. After they tell the news of the beast's existence, the frenzied boys mistake Simon as the beast coming out of the forest and brutally murder him.