Lord of the Flies

Character Notes

Ralph• Physical Characteristics: “Fair hair” –blond, 12½

yrs old, strong shoulders, innocent and kind look, athletic

• Personality: Protagonist, older, leader, struggles to establish rational order, excited about the island adventure, plot progresses through his eyes, his psychological maturation is viewed throughout the novel, maintains a conflict with Jack (antagonist) throughout the book

• Represents/Symbolizes: common sense, desire for civilized life, represents the ways humans suppress the evil within their nature, democracy

• Says: “We need fire in order to be rescued!”“My dad is in the Navy, he’ll save us!”

• Acts: as responsible as possible for a 12-year-old

• Feels about himself: doubts his ability as a leader

Jack Merridew• Physical Characteristics: Approx. the same

age as Ralph –maybe a little older, red hair, freckles, skinny, light blue eyes, “ugly without silliness”

• Personality: Ralph’s Antagonist, seems to harbor emotions of anger & savagery, leader of the choir group (i.e. hunters), bullying, bossy, mean, manipulative & good with words, controlling

• Symbolizes: Bestial/Savage instinct in mankind

• Says: “We need meat!”• Feels about himself: Confident & craves

being in charge

Piggy• Physical Characteristics: Close in age to Ralph &

Jack, very short and overweight, wears glasses, has asthma, cannot swim

• Personality: nerdy, does not care to do strenuous work on the island –asthma, raised by his “Auntie” because both parents are not alive, he sees what the rest of the boys cannot see, probably the smartest boy on the island, but lacks any social skills & has trouble communicating or fitting in with the others, tries very hard to cling to civilization & keep peace. Piggy finds the conch and befriends Ralph

• Symbolizes: Science & Intellectual insightRational thoughtDesire for clear-sightedness &

civilization (represented by polishing his glasses repeatedly)

Simon• Physical Characteristics: younger than the three

others (Ralph, Jack, & Piggy), but older than the littluns, short, small, skinny boy with straight dark hair, dark complexion, faints often from the heat –epilepsy

• Personality: bashful, loner, helpful, caring, “innately good- hearted,” good & pure with a positive outlook, nature lover, no fear of the dark jungle, shining hope, cares for the littluns, sees beauty in the earth & its creatures (sees flowers as “candlebuds”), often wanders off to his “special space” –a tranquil spot in the jungle, seems to meditate

• Symbolizes: acts as a character foil to Ralph & Jack, embodies an innate, spiritual human goodness, deeply connected with nature, morality, chaotic good

Roger• Physical Characteristics: small,

furtive, stealthy boy with dirty & shaggy black hair, gloomy face

• Personality: EVIL!, shows no mercy, sadistic, becomes Jack’s right-hand man – think Mafia “soldier,” Jack’s most loyal helper, gladly carries out his orders, wrong

• Symbolizes: Epitome of all that is evil in the human soul –chaotic evil

Samneric• Physical Characteristics: twin

brothers, “bigguns,” bullet-headed, hair like tow, chunky & vital, not enough skin –blurred profiles & mouths pulled open (Golding 15)

• Personality: always travel and do everything together, alone –are incapable of much, allies/loyal to Ralph, treated as a single entity –hence Samneric

• Symbolize: reliance & unity

The Littluns• Characteristics: Approx. 5-6 years old,

group of younger boys known collectively as “littluns”

• Symbolize: society, the masses, common folk – they follow the norm (whatever that may be)

• Ralph & Simon –Protect the boys and use their power to advance the good of the group

• Jack & Roger –Treat the boys as objects for their amusement and use their power to gratify their own desires