Democracy & Dictatorship

Democracy and Dictatorship

On the island, there is a constant power struggle between democracy and dictatorship. Golding shows how fragile democracy is – it can be easily destroyed.

Undermining democracy

Golding shows how fragile democracy is – it can be easily destroyed.
Jack is convinced that he should be the chief – when Ralph is elected leader, he begins to undermine him and starts doing what he wants to anyway.

Dictatorship

Jack then uses violence to get his own way before he decides to form his own tribe, where he is the unelected leader (he begins a dictatorship).
Jack makes all of the decisions and gives imperative orders, showing his power over the other boys: “"Tomorrow," went on the chief, "we shall hunt again.”

Fear and violence

When the beast begins to worry the other boys more, Jack uses their fear to make them join his tribe.
Jack’s tribe, borne out of fear and violence, is ruled by terror and evil.

Power

Golding shows how easily people can become victims of dictators, and how dangerous dictatorships are, even to those who support them.
He also shows how easily people can grab power.
- The boys on the island had no leaders when they landed, but they gave power to Ralph and Jack.

1Context

1.1Context

1.1.1The Title

1.1.2Historical Context

1.1.3End of Topic Test - Context

2Story Analysis

2.1Chapter 1

2.1.1The Sound of the Shell

2.1.2The Sound of the Shell 2

2.2Chapter 2

2.2.1Fire on the Mountain

2.3Chapter 3

2.3.1Huts on the Beach

2.4Chapter 4

2.4.1Painted Faces & Long Hair

2.5Chapter 5

2.5.1Beast from the Water

2.5.2Beast from the Water 2

2.6Chapter 6

2.6.1Beast From the Air

2.7Chapter 7

2.7.1Shadows & Tall Trees

2.8Chapter 8

2.8.1Gift for the Darkness

2.8.2Gift for the Darkness 2

2.8.3Gift for the Darkness 3

2.9Chapter 9

2.9.1A View to a Death

2.10Chapter 10

2.10.1The Shell & the Glasses

2.11Chapter 11

2.11.1Castle Rock

2.12Chapter 12

2.12.1Cry of the Hunters

3Key Characters

3.1Profiles

3.1.1Ralph

3.1.2Piggy

3.1.3Jack

3.1.4Exam-Style Questions - Jack

3.1.5Simon

3.1.6Roger

3.1.7End of Topic Test - Ralph, Piggy & Jack

3.1.8End of Topic Test - Simon & Roger

3.1.9Grade 9 - Key Characters

4Key Concepts

4.1Themes

4.1.1Human Nature

4.1.2The Beast

4.1.3Savagery

4.1.4Location & Setting

4.1.5Democracy & Dictatorship

4.1.6Power & Control

4.1.7End of Topic Test - Themes

5Writing Techniques

5.1Writing Techniques

5.1.1Allegory

5.1.2Foreshadowing

5.1.3Pathetic Fallacy

5.1.4Naming

5.1.5End of Topic Test - Writing Techniques

6Recap: Main Quotes

6.1Characters Quotes

6.1.1Ralph - Quotations

6.1.2Piggy - Quotations

6.1.3Jack - Quotations

6.1.4Simon - Quotations

6.1.5Roger - Quotations

6.2Text Structure - Quotes

6.2.1The Sound of the Shell - Quotations

6.2.2Fire on the Mountain - Quotations

6.2.3Huts on the Beach - Quotations

6.2.4Painted Faces & Long Hair - Quotations

6.2.5Beast from the Water - Quotations

6.2.6Beast From the Air - Quotations

6.2.7Shadows & Tall Trees - Quotations

6.2.8Gift for the Darkness - Quotations

6.2.9Gift for the Darkness - Quotations 2

6.2.10A View to a Death - Quotations

6.2.11The Shell & the Glasses - Quotations

6.2.12Castle Rock - Quotations

6.2.13Cry of the Hunters - Quotations

Jump to other topics