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In William Golding's novel Lord of the Flies the boys on the island go through many changes over the course of the book. This is true of the main character, Ralph. Even within the first four chapters, Ralph experiences drastic mental transformations. Ralph's mental changes are gradual but clear.
In the very beginning of the book, Ralph is very happy about his removal from the civilized world. When Piggy states to Ralph that there are no adults on the island, Ralph is so overjoyed that he proceeds to do a headstand in the middle of the jungle. Ralph also removes all of his clothing at this realization. This demonstrates that Ralph is consciously removing himself form the aspects of civilized society, in this case clothes. Toward the end of the first chapter, however, Ralph does begin to appreciate ideas normally associated with organized society. He develops the idea that some form of government must be formed on the island.
He takes this as far as to become the boys chief himself. By the books second chapter Ralph is becoming even more civilized in nature. One of the first acts that Ralph does as leader is to establish certain rules. One of these rules is the one that states that who ever holds the Ralph's conch shell is aloud to speak without being interrupted, except by Ralph. This shows that Ralph is beginning to understand that representative government does have its advantages, because it allows for the good ideas of many to be heard. Ralph is also further changed into a figure of authority when he attempts to logically assure the other boys that there is no beast on the island.
By the third chapter Ralph is effectively established as a true government leader. Ralph is the one who starts the building of the shelters, and is the only one, besides Simon, who sees the project through to its end. This demonstrates that Ralph has come to realize that being on the island alone, without adults, is not all fun and games. In fact it requires an extensive amount of hard work to survive. The fourth chapter pictures a Ralph almost totally different from the carefree fun loving boy depicted at the books beginning. He is now totally aware of the importance of rescue from the island, when in the beginning he was happy to get away from civilization.
It is for this reason that Ralph becomes so angered at Jack when Jack ruins there first possibility of escape from the island. Obviously Ralph has undergone an intellectual metamorphosis in the novel. His initial childlike attitude of being stranded has virtually disappeared by the end of the fourth chapter.
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Research essay sample on Demonstrates That Ralph Chapter Ralph Island
