How Jack develops between the chapters 1 and 4.
Uploaded by LydiaPrieg on Aug 29, 2002
Between the Chapters One and Four, Jack changes and developed quite extremely, and drastically. He goes from being a civilized choirboy, to a savage and bloodthirsty hunter. In this essay I will define the major points of change in Jack, and attempt to understand why this change occurred.
In Chapter One, Jack is introduced as the leader of the choir, well more of a dictator than a leader, but in charge none the less “The group of cloaked choirboys began to scatter from close line. The tall boy shouted at them ‘Choir stand still!’” Right from the beginning, it is obvious that Jack considers himself a most important person. He makes a dramatic entrance to impress and overwhelm the boys “The boy himself came forward, vaulted onto the platform with his cloak flying”. He comes across as quite heartless to people he considers beneath him. He doesn’t even blink, when Simon faints “He’s always throwing a faint”.
In Jack’s opinion, he is so incredibly grown up and mature, that his first name shouldn’t be used. First names are only for kids “ ‘Kids’ names’ said Merridew ‘Why should I be Jack? I’m Merridew’ ”. He is also proven to be extremely superficial. He doesn’t respect Piggy, because of his appearance “ ‘You’re talking too much’ said Jack Merridew ‘Shut up Fatty!’”. Jack starts out quite organized and rescue orientated “We’ve got to decide about being rescued”. He arrogantly decides that he should be chief “ ‘I ought to be chief’ said Jack with simple arrogance ‘because I’m a chapter chorister and head boy. I can sing C sharp’”. When Ralph is voted chief, the reader feels Jack’s vanity has been hit by the loss “The circle of boys broke into applause. Even the choir applauded; and the freckles on Jack’s face disappeared under a mortification”. However, he soon recovers when Ralph offers him control of the choir, as a peace offering.
The first signs of Jack being aggressive, come through when Jack decides that out of everything the choir could do, he wants them to be hunters " ‘Jack’s in charge of the choir. They can be – what do you want them to be?’ ‘Hunters’ ”. Jack appreciates Ralph acknowledging him, and giving him power, and a friendship between the two, is born “Jack and Ralph smiled at each other with shy liking”.
There is definitely however, no friendship developing...