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Lord of the Flies

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Several characters in William Golding’s Lord of the Flies show leadership potential in the novel, but, because they had or lacked certain character traits, were no effective as leaders. Jack, a very significant character in the novel, shows leadership potential throughout the whole novel. Ralph, also another significant character in the novel shows leadership potential but not as much as he should be, considering he is the chief. Lastly, Simon a very dynamic character does not show leadership traits but does show certain character traits other characters do not. All these characters either show leadership characters traits or do not but they are all effective as leaders or not as leaders. Firstly Jack shows leadership character traits through his actions towards the group. Jack wants to become the chief of the island but Piggy does not think that’s a good idea. Jack then splits everyone up by who wants to kill and who does not. A quote from the novel says, “’And you shut up! Who are you, anyway? Sitting there – telling people what to do. You can’t hunt, you can sing –‘ ‘I’m chief. I got chosen.’ ‘Why should choosing make any difference? Just giving orders that don’t make any sense –‘” (Golding 98). Jack knows that he should be chief no matter who wants him to be or not. He just wants his way and his way only. Jack made all the other characters act like monsters. The quote states, “At once the crowd surged after it, poured down the rock, leapt onto the beast, screamed, struck, bit, tore. There were no words, and no movements but the tearing of teeth and claws” (169). Jack’s leadership skills show’s when Jack leaves Ralph’s group to make his own. He then trained all the characters in his group to hunt. Everyone ends up wanting to hunt and kill no matter what. Jack wants all the power on the island and does no care how he will get it. A quote from the novel states,

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