Wednesday, November 4, 2015

In Lord of the Flies, what are some quotes Jack says to make the boys fear him (that show his authoritarian power)?

In chapter 4 when Jack and the hunters have killed their first pig, Jack attempts to keep the meat from Piggy, and Simon gives Piggy his piece. Jack cuts off a slab of meat and throws it at Simon's feet, saying, "Eat! Damn you! ... Take it! ... I got you meat!" Although Jack is looking for empathy at that point, he finds only respect from the other boys. So he goes with that. He explains, "I cut the pig's throat." His ability and willingness to do the undesirable work of killing a living thing shows his power. 


At the assembly later, he starts to challenge the rules, saying,



"Bollocks to the rules! We're strong--we hunt! If there's a beast, we'll hunt it down! We'll close in and beat and beat and beat--!"



In chapter 6 Jack wants to do away with the use of the conch during meetings. He says, "It's time some people knew they've got to keep quiet and leave deciding things to the rest of us." 


In chapter 7, the boys have a mock pig hunt using Robert as their pretend pig. Jack orders the boys to make a ring. The playing gets a little carried away, and Jack has Robert by the hair and brandishes his knife. The boys all chant, "Kill the pig! Cut his throat! Kill the pig! Bash him in!" Robert escapes, but suggests next time they need a real pig so it can be killed, but Jack says jokingly, "Use a littlun." As the action later unfolds, this comment becomes far from funny. 


When he steals fire from Ralph's camp, Jack tries to draw the other boys away by saying, "If you want to join my tribe, come and see us. Perhaps I'll let you join. Perhaps not."


When Samneric, Ralph, and Piggy come to Castle Rock, Jack orders the capture of Samneric by saying,  "Grab them! ... I said 'grab them!'" And after Piggy's murder, Jack says, "See? See? That's what you'll get! I meant that! There isn't a tribe for you any more! The conch is gone--" 


Jack's statements get more and more authoritarian and violent as the novel progresses.

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