Two separate illustrations of an animal head and a fire on a mountain

Lord of the Flies

by William Golding

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What content could Ralph include in a letter to Jack in "Lord of the Flies"?

Quick answer:

Ralph could write something like a letter to Jack from Ralph or he could write a post-rescue letter to one of the other boys and use the opportunity to reflect on what happened.

Expert Answers

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Certainly, the timing of the letter would dictate how Ralph would respond. Let's say that the letter-writing occurs after they are rescued—after all, there are no pens, pencils, or paper on the island.

Having had time to digest everything that's happened, it's hard to say what Ralph would write. Perhaps he would remain furious and outraged (particularly at Jack and Roger) for their roles in the deaths of Simon and Piggy. Or, perhaps, in some benevolent epiphany, Ralph would offer forgiveness and end with some kind of wisdom that the beast is in all of us and that we must choose the righteous path rather than succumb to savage instinct. Does Ralph condemn them (personally in the letter and/or to adults in authority), or does he offer understanding? Or is it something else?

Maybe Ralph would use the letter as an attempt to make Jack realize what he'd done. He could write tributes to Simon and Piggy. This would be kind of a guilt trip but also a way to honor Simon and Piggy. He could offer some allegory indicating that Jack's leadership resembled that of a dictator more than a protective leader. If Ralph chose this way of composing a letter, it would be interesting if he still tried to "save" Jack. It would really be a profound and benevolent gesture. Using the guilt trip or allegorical reasoning or some other tactic, maybe Ralph would try to make Jack see the error of his ways. Maybe the letter could be a tool to prevent future (adult) Jack from repeating the sins of Jack the child. It could be a lesson in ethics and reason: another tribute to Simon and Piggy.

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