Question

Reflect on the argument that ralph and jack have. why does jack suddenly feel empowered to openly challenge ralph and "the rules?" (91).

Answer 1

In Golding's "The Lord of the Flies," Ralph sought to recreate the order and function of that they left behind in the civilized world, while Jack began to enjoy the power and savagery the island's location allowed. During the meeting where Jack challenged Ralph, Ralph held the meeting at dusk, when it was getting dark, and when Jack had returned from a successful--and brutal--pig hunt. The dark's diminishing of Ralph's authority coupled with Jack's sense of savage power gave Jack the sense of power to challenge Ralph. He used fear of the dark to influence the smaller boys to his side.