The book Lord of the Flies portrays an idea, which has been long debated upon. The idea present is that man is inherently barbaric. In the book, Golding supports the idea, and throughout the book one sees how a group of innocent schoolboys transforms into a pack of nomadic homicidal savages. Though Golding does an excellent job supporting this idea throughout the novel, I believe the contrary. I believe that man is rather inherently civilized. Though I am not saying that all men are civilized and amiable, because there are individuals in our society who have a desire to reek havoc and cause pandemonium. It is those few individuals who influence others, which is seen throughout the novel, and all the barbaric nature to spread through civilization.
When the boys first arrive on the island, everything seems to be ok. They are of course shaken up because of the drastic scenery change as well as no adults to be found. Ralph seems to be appointed the leader; because he found the conch and appears to possesses the characteristics, which make the boys, look up to him and trust him. Ralph, with Piggy's assistance attempts to bring order to the group of boys, and seems to have momentarily succeeded. It was then when Jack steps in and starts to go on about how the boys need to hunt instead of build shelters. I believe that the boys would've followed Ralph's orders and built shelters, but when the person they are looking to for authority and guidance is challenged by another in their presence he suddenly looses much of his power. It is when Jack starts gaining power when the civilization or lack there of, starts to take a downward spiral.
The characters in the novel behave and have the characteristics they do for the purpose of symbolizing a group of people, or a specific type of person in our society. Ralph symbolizes the goodness of our society, in the sense that he solely and whole-heartedly wanted organization and order on the island, so the boys would be safe and prosper.