"Compare and contrast the characters of Jack and Ralph and discuss the way that the rivalry between them develops in the course of the novel." By comparing and contrasting the characters of Jack and Ralph it allows the reader to fully understand their characters and how each develops throughout the novel. Once this has been achieved the reason the rivalry occurs becomes evident and the novel's most important qualities and themes emerge from these two characters. It is then that we are able to see why Ralph and Jack's friendship can never develop into anything but rivalry. Throughout the novel...
rivalry, and how it effects the outcome of the novel. Golding intends for these characters to teach us valuable lessons and for them to bring relevance into our lives, and through Ralph and Jack's experiences the novel achieves just that, causing us to rethink our morals and how they effect those around us, as we are all inclined to judge ourselves by our ideals and others by their acts. It is important for Golding's readers to remember - "What lies behind us, and what lies before us, are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." Ralph Waldo Emerson