NON-AFRICAN PROSE
WILLIAM GOLDING: Lord of the Flies
How does Ralph’s exercise of authority differ from Jack’s?
Explanation
By their nature, Ralph and Jack are opposites. Their notions of authority are dissimilar and their exercise of power differs remarkably. The boys have voted Ralph as their chief. He thinks there has to be order as well as rules. These rules must be obeyed by all without exception. Initially it has seemed that Jack is of the same mind. Yet Ralph has discerned from Jack’s voice that jack is one who has his own mind.
While Ralph takes the election result calmly, Jack is mortified. Jack expects to be the chief by right. He is a choir leader and can sing. So while Ralph keeps all aloof awaiting the decision of the others in the matter, Jack actually asserts his eligibility. Ralph’s notion is that power is sharing. As soon as he is elected, he thinks of offering Jack a position. He gives Jack leadership of the choir and the freedom to call them an army of hunters as he chooses. Jack’s taking charge, on the other hand, gives him absolute power over the hunters.
Another difference in their exercise of authority is that while Ralph places absolute trust in the conch which represents order, Jack only makes use of the conch, at his convenience. Whereas Ralph consults the others in taking decisions, Jack’s word is law. In exercising authority, Ralph acknowledges that Piggy is wise and comes to rely on Piggy’s wisdom. Jack on the other hand, orders his hunters to do things. When he wants to make fire, after the separation, he organizes a night raid of Ralph’s headquarters and steals Piggy’s spectacles. Ralph says he would have given Jack the fire if he had asked. But Jack is not one to request fire from anyone, especially when he is chief in his own right. To sum it up, Ralph believes in consultation and dialogue in the exercise of authority while Jack is authoritarian and dictatorial.