Lord Of The Flies: Why Do We Choose The Leaders That We Do Essay, Research Paper

In the following paper, I?m going to attempt to explain why it is that we

choose the leaders in which we do. There are many various reasons why we pick

certain individuals to lead us. The first one, which is in no relation to Loard

of the Flies, is by being appointed. People are often predetermined leaders.

One of the most obvious examples of this is royalty. For thousands of years,

sons and daughters of royal famlies are given power when their parents pass on.

If both king and queen pass on, and they have no children, then the next

closest relative will take power. ?In the past, chiefdoms existed in a great

number of Polynesian societies on Pacific Ocean islands, such as those that

make up what is now Hawaii. Chiefdoms were the first societies to have

positions of defined, permanent leadership. Chiefdoms still exist in some

places under national governments. For instance, chiefs of the Kpelle of

Liberia are political leaders for the country?s national districts.? Another

example of an appointed leader is when a leader appoints someone to a position

of power. In this day and age, we do this in our own country. The president has

the authority to give members of his cabinet jobs that come with power. In the

military, Larkin 2 people are constantly advanced in rank. By doing this, they

are given more power and put into a position of leadership. However, this isn?t

the only way people come into power. Many tribes (Indians, African, Eskimo)

have different systems of government. Some have several, leaders others have

just one. ?Within most tribes, all groups commonly have about equal status.

Since every person belongs to a descent group, no one person ranks too far

above or below another. In some tribes, however, people known as big men might

earn a degree of higher status and respect than others by demonstrating bravery

or bravado.? This was exhibited by both Ralph and Jack. First by Ralph by him

electing to search for the ?Beastie? on Castle Rock. He knew that in order to

keep his place as the leader, he couldn?t show fear. After Ralph was on the

jetty, realizing that he might loose any chance of power, Jack soon decides to

overcome his fear and follow. The second time was when the boys were climbing

the cliff, once again to search for the Larkin 3 Beast. This time, Ralph stayed

behind and Jack went first. Jack knew that being brave would get him more

respect and put him one step closer to being chief. Thus, by showing their

bravery, the boys fought for the position of leadership. And then, there?s

strength. Strength plays a big part in leadership. In humans as well as wild

animals. Many animals live in pacts. Within this group are different classes.

At the top of the chain is the leader. For example, take the silverback

gorilla. The silverback gorilla is the leader of its group because he is able

to take control and fight off enemies. If there is a danger, he will confront

it. However, if another silverback comes along, challenges the original leader,

and wins, the original leader will abandon the group and live a solitary life.

At this time, the winner will take over. Strength has over come weakness, and

the winning gorilla is rewarded with power. Plus, within the group, there are

two other subdominant male gorillas who receive their power based upon their

strength. This is common in many other animals. Larkin 4 Leaders can become

leaders by using their talent. Their talent of talking. Speeches, convincing

the masses, ect. Adolph Hitler was a good speaker. Through his methods, he was

able to convince thousands of people to follow him. He brought out peoples

passions. Told them what they wanted to hear. Gave them someone to blame for

their problems. And by doing this, the people choose him to lead them. They believed

in him, his ideas, and, for the most part, many of his methods. We pick our

politicians because of what they say. Why did the Republican Party choose over

? Because he was a good speaker. With his words he was able to convince his

party that he was the right choice for the Presidential candidate. Labor Union

Leaders are chosen as well because they are good speakers. Ernest Bevin was a ?British

labor leader and statesman. About 1909, after working at a number of manual

trades, he became a labor organizer. In 1920 he gained a nationwide reputation

by making a speech before the Transport Workers’ Court of Larkin 5 Inquiry that

resulted in a standard minimum wage for British dockworkers.? Or maybe it is

their charisma. ?Recent studies found that people experience personal

attractions to a charismatic leader. People feel comfortable with a charismatic

leader. They end up trusting, obeying, feeling compasion for their leader and

even ?feel an emotional involvement in the mission they are led into? (Http://psychology.about.com/education).

Look at such leaders as Adolph Hitler, John F. Kennedy, Nelson Mandela, and

Martin Luther King jr. They all had charisma, all were loved and adored by the

people they led, and all had a large number of dedicated followers. Several

years ago, there was a cult known as Heavens Gate. The cult was founded and led

by a man by the name of Marshall Herff Applewhite. In 1975, he claimed to be a

space alien. Soon after he convinced a group of 20 people to leave their lives

behind and join him. Then, they moved to Colorado to meet with a space ship

that was supposedly going to pick them all up?Obviously, the ship never came.

Eighteen years later, he and his group resurfaced. In early 1997, he as well as

the rest of his followers, committed mass suicide. How was he able to have

these people believe his outlandish story? Through charisma. A former disciple

of Applewhites? stated ?I don?t think he Larkin 6 needed to have a following. I

think he was the kind of person that truly believed and had a lot of charisma.

And so other people followed him.? So why do we pick our leaders? It is truly a

hard question. You can think long and hard but still not have a definitive

answer. That is because it?s not just one characteristic, nor is it always the

same set of characteristics that makes a leader, a leader. A leader can not be

a leader with out followers. Each follower is looking for something different.

So, he or she finds the one with the desired traits; Strength, passion,

intelligence, charisma, so on and so on. So, what do you look for when choosing

a leader? Is it because the person is an overall good leader, or simply a good

speaker?