Democracy & Dictatorship
English Lit: AQA GCSE Lord of the Flies, topic 4.1.5
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.