Character Sketch on Jack Merridew from Lord of the Flies :: essays research papers

Jack first appears in Chapter 1 on page 15 after Ralph had blown the conch. He appears at first to be a terrifying and haunting figure in the way he dresses, a long sweeping black cloak, from a distance looking like a fictional character. Jack is introduced as darkness and shadow, â€Å"Within the diamond haze of the beach something dark was fumbling along... the creature stepped from mirage on to clear sand, and then they saw that the darkness was not all shadow but mostly clothing.† The image Ralph sees is actually Jack and his choir boys. When they are first introduced, â€Å"the heat of the tropics, the descent, the search for food, and now this sweaty march along the blazing beach had given them the complexions of newly washed plums.† Jack wore â€Å"a long black cloak which bore a long silver cross on the left breast and each neck was finished off with hambone frill.† Each choir boy also wore a square black cap with a silver badge on it but Jack’s badge was golden. Jack is â€Å"tall, thin, and bony: his hair was red beneath the black cap. His face was...freckled, and ugly without silliness... .â€Å" His eyes were bright blue and were ready turned to anger if necessary. He held himself upright and moved athletically and with authority. The first thing Jack says when he meets up with Ralph, Piggy and the other crowd of boys is, â€Å"Where’s the man with the trumpet?† The way in which he says this shows his contempt for the other children on the island. At this point he only cares about himself, his own reactions to changes and his own feelings. This is visible through his none existent interest towards the boys. He disagrees with some of what is said, â€Å"This was the voice of one who knew his own mind.† He has a disdainful attitude towards the other boys including the choir but shows a grudging respect and a shy liking for Ralph once Ralph is elected as leader and offers him continued control of the choir to be given which ever job Jack chooses. At first Jack doesn’t seem satisfied that there isn’t a man and wonders why Ralph has summoned everyone if there is no ship. He is put out because he isn’t chief. He believes that Ralph isn’t able to control the boys and thinks that he has his priorities all wrong- Ralph should be ordering people to go out hunting instead of building huts and keeping fires going.