Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/3-1-3-jack

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# Jack

English Lit: AQA GCSE Lord of the Flies, topic 3.1.3

## Jack

Jack is immediately presented as an egomaniac (dangerously self-centred). He represents evil, chaos, violence, and an obsession for power.

### Jack

![Jack](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-01/fadc6133-53fb-47cf-8553-644e848c5a5f/choir-boys-church-music-sing-.jpg)

- Jack is the main antagonist (villain) in _Lord of the Flies_. 
- He was the head chorister at school and is an upper-class boy.
- Because of this, he appoints himself leader of the hunters. 
- He neglects the signal fire and enjoys acting savage and hunting, eventually hunting Ralph.

### Arrogance

![Arrogance](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/c41cd667-5d57-42d3-aae3-5834c190e239/choir-hyms-singing-.jpg)

- One of the first things Jack does in the novel is show his arrogance and lack of common sense.
  - __“"I ought to be chief," said Jack with simple arrogance, "because I'm chapter chorister and head boy. I can sing C sharp.""__

### Leadership

![Leadership](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/1a698b97-68b0-40e8-8c6d-aada232cf698/vote-yes-tick.jpg)

- He argues that he should be elected leader of the island purely because he can sing the highest note. 
- He has no real understanding of what leadership is, but simply expects to be the leader because of his singing skill.

### Savagery

![Savagery](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/3add0d9f-a962-45a6-9aa5-7003d87c8df5/knife-hand.jpg)

- Jack illustrates a severe slide from civility and proper behaviour to savagery and loss of humanity.
- At first, he tells the choirboys that they must wear their uniform robes at all times, and he is unable to kill a pig. 
- However, by the end, he encourages the boys to wear very little clothing, paint their faces and bodies, and is obsessed with killing animals and people.

### Identity

![Identity](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-01/5b0d23bf-f249-4568-8441-19819c0bb502/face-paint-colour-blue-.jpg)

- By the end, Jack hides the civilised part of himself behind the face paint. 
  - __“Jack planned his new face… he looked in astonishment no longer at himself but at an awesome stranger.”__ 
- With his identity hidden, he feels as if he can behave however he likes because he is no longer the same person: 
   - __“The mask compelled them.”__

## Jack cont.

Jack illustrates a severe slide from civility and proper behaviour to savagery and loss of humanity.

### Warning signs

![Warning signs](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/847a792f-ac32-4905-926d-45f46c3b1d74/eye-watch-.jpg)

- Despite his failure early on, Jack becomes obsessed with killing the pig: 
  - __“ “The madness came into his eyes again. “I thought I might kill” “.__
- When Jack successfully kills a pig later on, __“he giggled and flecked”__ the other boys with blood. 
- Murder has become a game, something funny, which shows us that Jack is finding the idea of killing living things easier and easier – this is a warning for the reader.

### Foreshadowing

![Foreshadowing](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/8c10be82-6383-4d13-9da6-8bc7c017d735/detect-magnifying.jpg)

- Very early in the novel, Jack is described in very violent, animalistic ways (he __“began to dance and his laughter became a bloodthirsty snarling”__).
- Golding uses this behaviour to foreshadow (give clues about the future) Jack completely losing his humanity.

### Savagery

![Savagery](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/courseImages/biology/Edexcel/2%20cells%20and%20control/cataract.jpg)

- Strangely, as Jack becomes more and more savage, he seems to have more control over the rest of the boys – they listen to him and are eager to be part of his tribe.
- Golding uses Jack to show how dangerous it can be to blindly follow someone who takes control.
- Because they follow Jack, the other boys also fall deeper into savagery and enjoy causing fear and pain more.

### Religion

![Religion](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/courseImages/biology/6.2.1%20-%20Variation%20and%20evolution/strong-baby.jpg)

- Jack uses the boys’ fear of the beast to control them.
- He takes control of the hunt for the beast, offering to save the boys from this threat. 
- The boys see him as strong and powerful, as someone who can help them, so they leave Ralph’s group to join Jack’s tribe.
- Golding could be referring to how people can manipulate religious and superstitious beliefs to cause fear and danger to others.

### Irony

![Irony](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-05/7047b661-1f17-49fe-892e-b47d15cfa511/shutterstock_538465612.jpg)

- It is ironic at the end of the novel – even though Ralph had been focused on, and obsessed with, saving the boys with a signal fire, it is Jack who saves them all by starting a wildfire to smoke out Ralph for the boys to kill.

### Summary of Jack

![Summary of Jack](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/879cb06d-bece-425c-aef2-09675c81c552/burnt-at-stake-.jpg)

- He decides that his choir boys will be hunters.
- He steals Piggy’s glasses to make fires.
- He kills the first pig and encourages dancing and chanting.
- His urge to hunt and kill becomes an obsession for him.
- He does not care about Ralph’s rules (because he thinks he should be in charge).
- With his own tribe, he is a cruel and evil leader.

## Test yourself on Jack

- What is NOT something that Jack represents in _Lord of the Flies_?

[Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/08b7e84d-b410-4ab6-9d2b-0cecf0e200ed/section/84a6b759-5f99-4030-ac1e-91b3911e50fa/session)

- Previous topic: [3.1.2 Piggy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/3-1-2-piggy.md)
- Next topic: [3.1.4 Exam-Style Questions - Jack](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/3-1-4-exam-style-questions-jack.md)

## English Lit: AQA GCSE Lord of the Flies contents

### 1 Context
- 1.1 Context
  - [1.1.1 The Title](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/1-1-1-the-title.md)
  - [1.1.2 Historical Context](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/1-1-2-historical-context.md)
  - [1.1.3 End of Topic Test - Context](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/1-1-3-end-of-topic-test-context.md)

### 2 Story Analysis
- 2.1 Chapter 1
  - [2.1.1 The Sound of the Shell](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/2-1-1-the-sound-of-the-shell.md)
  - [2.1.2 The Sound of the Shell 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/2-1-2-the-sound-of-the-shell-2.md)
- 2.2 Chapter 2
  - [2.2.1 Fire on the Mountain](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/2-2-1-fire-on-the-mountain.md)
- 2.3 Chapter 3
  - [2.3.1 Huts on the Beach](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/2-3-1-huts-on-the-beach.md)
- 2.4 Chapter 4
  - [2.4.1 Painted Faces & Long Hair](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/2-4-1-painted-faces-and-long-hair.md)
- 2.5 Chapter 5
  - [2.5.1 Beast from the Water](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/2-5-1-beast-from-the-water.md)
  - [2.5.2 Beast from the Water 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/2-5-2-beast-from-the-water-2.md)
- 2.6 Chapter 6
  - [2.6.1 Beast From the Air](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/2-6-1-beast-from-the-air.md)
- 2.7 Chapter 7
  - [2.7.1 Shadows & Tall Trees](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/2-7-1-shadows-and-tall-trees.md)
- 2.8 Chapter 8
  - [2.8.1 Gift for the Darkness](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/2-8-1-gift-for-the-darkness.md)
  - [2.8.2 Gift for the Darkness 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/2-8-2-gift-for-the-darkness-2.md)
  - [2.8.3 Gift for the Darkness 3](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/2-8-3-gift-for-the-darkness-3.md)
- 2.9 Chapter 9
  - [2.9.1 A View to a Death](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/2-9-1-a-view-to-a-death.md)
- 2.10 Chapter 10
  - [2.10.1 The Shell & the Glasses](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/2-10-1-the-shell-and-the-glasses.md)
- 2.11 Chapter 11
  - [2.11.1 Castle Rock](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/2-11-1-castle-rock.md)
- 2.12 Chapter 12
  - [2.12.1 Cry of the Hunters](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/2-12-1-cry-of-the-hunters.md)

### 3 Key Characters
- 3.1 Profiles
  - [3.1.1 Ralph](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/3-1-1-ralph.md)
  - [3.1.2 Piggy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/3-1-2-piggy.md)
  - [3.1.3 Jack](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/3-1-3-jack.md)
  - [3.1.4 Exam-Style Questions - Jack](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/3-1-4-exam-style-questions-jack.md)
  - [3.1.5 Simon](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/3-1-5-simon.md)
  - [3.1.6 Roger](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/3-1-6-roger.md)
  - [3.1.7 End of Topic Test - Ralph, Piggy & Jack](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/3-1-7-end-of-topic-test-ralph-piggy-and-jack.md)
  - [3.1.8 End of Topic Test - Simon & Roger](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/3-1-8-end-of-topic-test-simon-and-roger.md)
  - [3.1.9 Grade 9 - Key Characters](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/3-1-9-grade-9-key-characters.md)

### 4 Key Concepts
- 4.1 Themes
  - [4.1.1 Human Nature](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/4-1-1-human-nature.md)
  - [4.1.2 The Beast](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/4-1-2-the-beast.md)
  - [4.1.3 Savagery](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/4-1-3-savagery.md)
  - [4.1.4 Location & Setting](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/4-1-4-location-and-setting.md)
  - [4.1.5 Democracy & Dictatorship](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/4-1-5-democracy-and-dictatorship.md)
  - [4.1.6 Power & Control](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/4-1-6-power-and-control.md)
  - [4.1.7 End of Topic Test - Themes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/4-1-7-end-of-topic-test-themes.md)

### 5 Writing Techniques
- 5.1 Writing Techniques
  - [5.1.1 Allegory](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/5-1-1-allegory.md)
  - [5.1.2 Foreshadowing](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/5-1-2-foreshadowing.md)
  - [5.1.3 Pathetic Fallacy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/5-1-3-pathetic-fallacy.md)
  - [5.1.4 Naming](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/5-1-4-naming.md)
  - [5.1.5 End of Topic Test - Writing Techniques](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/5-1-5-end-of-topic-test-writing-techniques.md)

### 6 Recap: Main Quotes
- 6.1 Characters Quotes
  - [6.1.1 Ralph - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/6-1-1-ralph-quotations.md)
  - [6.1.2 Piggy - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/6-1-2-piggy-quotations.md)
  - [6.1.3 Jack - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/6-1-3-jack-quotations.md)
  - [6.1.4 Simon - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/6-1-4-simon-quotations.md)
  - [6.1.5 Roger - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/6-1-5-roger-quotations.md)
- 6.2 Text Structure - Quotes
  - [6.2.1 The Sound of the Shell - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/6-2-1-the-sound-of-the-shell-quotations.md)
  - [6.2.2 Fire on the Mountain - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/6-2-2-fire-on-the-mountain-quotations.md)
  - [6.2.3 Huts on the Beach - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/6-2-3-huts-on-the-beach-quotations.md)
  - [6.2.4 Painted Faces & Long Hair - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/6-2-4-painted-faces-and-long-hair-quotations.md)
  - [6.2.5 Beast from the Water - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/6-2-5-beast-from-the-water-quotations.md)
  - [6.2.6 Beast From the Air - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/6-2-6-beast-from-the-air-quotations.md)
  - [6.2.7 Shadows & Tall Trees - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/6-2-7-shadows-and-tall-trees-quotations.md)
  - [6.2.8 Gift for the Darkness - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/6-2-8-gift-for-the-darkness-quotations.md)
  - [6.2.9 Gift for the Darkness - Quotations 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/6-2-9-gift-for-the-darkness-quotations-2.md)
  - [6.2.10 A View to a Death - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/6-2-10-a-view-to-a-death-quotations.md)
  - [6.2.11 The Shell & the Glasses - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/6-2-11-the-shell-and-the-glasses-quotations.md)
  - [6.2.12 Castle Rock - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/6-2-12-castle-rock-quotations.md)
  - [6.2.13 Cry of the Hunters - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/aqa/lord-of-the-flies/6-2-13-cry-of-the-hunters-quotations.md)