Character Comparison
Between Ralph – Lord of The Flies
And
Mike – Kid’s Nation TV Program
By Cameron Hale-Sanders
The reason that I picked both these characters is that they both represent the theme of trying to maintain civilization and order. I will compare Ralph and Mike to show that as leaders, they are very different and very alike.
I will start with Ralph to explain his qualities as a leader. Ralph is a character that believes that they will be rescued by the navy because his father will come looking for him when he notices that his son's plane has gone missing. Ralph knows that they will be not be rescued unless there is a signal fire to let rescuers know where they are. Ralph thinks of the fire as one of the only ways to be rescued. The fire means salvation. In the novel, Ralph starts out as a leader to the whole group of stranded kids. He is a good leader for many reasons. He seems to understand people and that the boys need rules to survive on the island. Ralph creates rules that the boys need to follow. He keeps the boys organized by giving them all jobs that will help everyone on the island. He gives Samneric the most important job of keeping the fire alive, Jack and the choir as the hunters, and piggy as a care-taker of the littluns. Ralph is trying to maintain order by giving all the boys different jobs that helps all of them. He takes a great deal of control and is the first to step up in a situation to help make sure everyone is safe on the island. “You hunters! You can laugh! But I tell you smoke is more important than the pig, however often you kill one. Do all of you see?” He spread his arms wide and turned to the whole triangle. “We’ve got to make smoke up there – or die.” This quote shows how Ralph is trying to maintain order and good behavior. He is trying to tell them what they can do to survive the island and not die.
Mike is