3.1.6

Roger

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Roger

Roger shows violence from the very start, picking on the littluns. He sharpens a stick at both ends when the mob hunts Ralph.

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Roger

  • As a reader, we do not hear much about Roger until Jack takes over as the main leader of the island.
  • At the start, we see him picking on the littleuns, throwing rocks near them to frighten them.
  • He is shown to be “watching the littleuns”, as if biding his time until he could do them harm.
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Terror

  • When Jack takes over, evil is allowed free reign and Roger uses the opportunity to show his incredibly evil, sadistic side.
  • Roger is the result of evil winning – he terrorises the boys, enjoys torturing them.
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True evil

  • “Samneric lay looking up in quiet terror. Roger advanced upon them as one wielding a nameless authority”.
  • Even the boys in Jack’s tribe, who are on the same side as Roger, are incredibly scared of him: “He’s a terror”.
  • Roger has no mercy and enjoys the power he has to hurt others – he represents true evil.

Roger cont.

Roger is the one who completely destroys all civilisation, law, order, and intelligent reasoning on the island.

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Piggy's murder

  • Roger is the one who casually releases the boulder on the hill, murdering Piggy with extreme ease and, even, joy:
    • “Roger, with a sense of delirious abandonment, leaned all his weight on the lever”.
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Cold-blooded murder

  • This death is the first case of cold, calculated murder on the island.
  • Roger has no remorse. He wanted to kill Piggy.
  • Roger is the one who completely destroys all civilisation, law, order, and intelligent reasoning on the island.
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WW2

  • As the novel was written after World War 2, Roger could be likened to one of Hitler’s secret police who enforced his laws through violence and intimidation.
  • Golding shows what could have happened to society if the Germans (evil forces) had won: the end of goodness and civilised thoughts.
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Summary of Roger

  • Roger is only ever shown doing sinister, nasty things.
  • He represents complete terror and evil.
  • He is the one who commits the only premeditated, calculated murder on the island: Piggy’s.
  • He hunts Ralph with a stick that is sharpened at both ends.
  • He is brutal and savage.

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