- Strong, determined, survivor which a natural air of authority
- Has an attractive appearance which suggests an attractive character too
- Ralph has athletic qualities that would make other boys look up to him
“mouth and eyes that proclaimed no devil” (pg 5)
- From the beginning, Golding is highlighting Ralph’s innocence and how he never gives into
evil
- However, it is a physical description that demonstrates this rather than a character
description
- Ralph seems physically mature and more suited to life on the island
- The word “devil” only appears twice in the novel and although it is light-hearted here, the
darkening tone in Chapter 11 of “the anonymous devils’ faces” presents a threat to the
word.
“One might dream of rescue” (pg 111)
- He is losing his authority
“Piggy and Ralph, under the threat of the sky, found themselves eager to take part in this demented
but partly secure society” (pg 152)
- Temptation to join Jack’s tribe for security due to the strength in numbers
- Ironic as the characters along with Simon are the sanest and most moral characters in the
novel. Yet they are “eager” to participate in a cruel and barbaric ceremony.
- Their fear of the storm and the darkness leads them to prefer to belong to any society than
be alone.
“You’re a beast and a swine and a bloody, bloody thief!” (pg 177)
- He’s finally turning against Jack rather than putting up with him
- Repetition of “bloody” highlights his frustration
- Directly address Jack as the beast which is proved by relishing in Piggy’s death
- He is indirectly describing Jack for what he is, a murderer
- Unknowingly, he is describing him and the boys for what they really are, the beast
“Ralph prayed that the beast would prefer littluns”
- He believes that there’s a beast and has a moment of selfishness, ranking the littluns lower
than himself
“Roger sharpened a stick at both ends… Ralph tried to attach a meaning to this but could not”
- Ralph has little evil inside him
- He doesn’t understand that it will be used for his hunting
“Who’s boss here? I am”
- Right until the end, Ralph remains confident as a leader
“Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart”
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