lotf ralph

Cards (8)

  • The boy with fair hair'
    'the boy' suggests he represents something more universal.
    'fair hair'- Ralph's physical characteristics mimic the Aryan ideal. This contrasts with how Piggy is introduced ('the fat boy') and immediately introduces physical beauty as an important theme, foreshadowing its importance in Ralph's election as leader.
    By introducing Ralph and Piggy solely by their physical characteristics Golding plays on the reader's prejudices.
  • ignoring Piggy's ill-omened talk, he dreamed pleasantly.'
    R is unaccepting of what has happened, shows immaturity.
    Contrasts with Piggy's realistic, more mature approach to the situation.
    'ill-omened' is how the other boys react to Piggy's realism.
  • (When the boys decide on Ralph as their leader)
    'there was his size, and attractive appearance'
    R's physical attractiveness is a key reason why the boys originally follow him.
  • The choir belongs to you, of course.'
    Ralph is diplomatic.
    In this scene, and in others, we see him acting as a sort of gel, or buffer, between conflicting characters such as Jack and Piggy.
  • He hovered between the two courses of apology or further insult.'
    Ralph occupies a middle ground, between the explicit insult of Jack and weakness.
  • R's reaction to the candle bush:
    '"You couldn't light them... They just look like candles."'
    Somewhere between Simon's imaginativeness and Ralph destructiveness.
  • "But his is a good island."'
    'The assembly was lifted towards safety by his words. They liked and now respected him.'
    Says what everyone wants to hear. That and his physical appearance are the reasons the boys feel safe with him as their leader.
    The opposite is true of Piggy, who is both the voice of reason and physically unattractive; he is therefore ostracised from the group.
    People are easily swayed by what they want to hear.
  • "But there isn't a snake...But there isn't a beast... But I tell you there isn't a beast!"'

    Repetition emphasises the futility of the statement.
    Later on, things start to really break down once Ralph admits that thereisa beast