Leadership: Lord Of The Flies And Animal Farm Essay, Research Paper

Two unassociated books, Lord of the Flies and Animal Farm, come together in a certain way to show the quest for leadership among humans. George Orwell, author of Animal Farm, and William Golding, author of Lord of the Flies, explains quite well in these books how human kind destroys itself to be above everything else.

Each story has its own original leader, a second designated realistic leader, and its final monarchist leader. In Lord of the Flies the original leader is possibly the pilot or really any adult figure that once controlled them. The second designated realistic leader is Ralph, who is picked as leader because of his instant leadership actions. Finally comes the monarchist leadership of Jack Merridew, a boy in search of a totalitarian control. Animal Farm has the original leader as Mr. Jones, the owner of Manor Farm. When Mr. Jones is gone, Snowball takes over the role of the realistic leader only to be pushed out by the more aggressive monarchist leader, Napoleon.

The original leaders are short-lived characters, and leave early in the stories. They do not return until the very end when control is theirs once again. Everything returns to the way things were before the original leaders left.

The realistic leaders do not actually ask for command. This authority is given to them because they show leadership qualities and that is what the majority of the population is looking for. Snowball started to assume the leadership role by answering questions after Old Major?s death. Ralph gained control because he called a meeting with the conch and started making plans of survival if they are really on an island. The children like him so they immediately say ?Him with the shell.?, ?Ralph! Ralph!?, ?Let him be chief with the trumpet-thing? (Golding 22).

The monarchists use the faults of Ralph and Snowball to make the others turn against them. The kids start to get annoyed with Ralph?s arguing that they ?decide things. But they don?t get done? (Golding 79).

Jack and Napoleon take control by using fear and threats. Jack uses the worry of the beast to keep the boys on his side, and Napoleon continues to say that Mr. Jones will come back without his leadership. Several threatening speeches arise from Squealer; ?Bravery is not enough?. Loyalty and obedience are more important?. Discipline, comrades, iron discipline?. One false step, and our enemies would be upon us. Surely, comrades, you do not want Jones back? (Orwell 70).

The monarchists are together on several points. They both inflict harm on others to scare the population. Jack begins by tying up Wilfred and beating him to show he is a feared man. Napoleon proves himself to the others by killing animals that claim they converse with Snowball. The democracies they have created are aiding in the killings of several people and animals. Jack and Napoleon promise more and better food than what the boys and the animals are getting. Jack legitimately provides meat, which is an improvement in comparison to just getting fruits. Napoleon says that all the animals are receiving more rations than before, but the animals really don?t have anything to compare it to.

Jack and Napoleon are thieves of Ralph and Snowball?s ideas. They took their original ideas and changed them to their own advantage. The windmill is now being used to grind wheat when it is built for creating electricity. Also, the fire is now used for cooking and not as a signal at all.

Jack and Napoleon fear their competition. Because of their worries of losing control, they both try to get rid of the realistic leader. Napoleon succeeds in scaring off Snowball, and Jack almost succeeds in eliminating Ralph. He is saved at the last second because the soldiers see the smoke and flames.

In the end, things always return to what they used to be. Napoleon finishes with a toast, ?Fill your glasses to the brim. Gentlemen, here is my toast: To the prosperity of The Manor Farm? (Orwell 138). As in Animal Farm, Lord of the Flies is no different with its lost leadership returning to the adults.

The defects of human nature reflect back upon the defects of society. Society must depend on the ethical behavior of man to grow and change.

Bibliography

Animal Farm

Lord of the Flies