Compare and contrast Ralph and Jack's leadership roles?

Ralph is a selfless leader who is focused on the essential elements of survival and rescue. Ralph is constantly reminding the boys of the importance of maintaining a signal fire. Ralph uses the conch to organize and call assemblies. Throughout the assemblies, Ralph allows others to speak and takes into consideration their ideas and feelings. He cares for each child on the island, even the littluns, which he builds shelters for so they feel a...

Ralph is a selfless leader who is focused on the essential elements of survival and rescue. Ralph is constantly reminding the boys of the importance of maintaining a signal fire. Ralph uses the conch to organize and call assemblies. Throughout the assemblies, Ralph allows others to speak and takes into consideration their ideas and feelings. He cares for each child on the island, even the littluns, which he builds shelters for so they feel a sense of comfort during the night. Ralph exercises good judgment in times of adversity. He stands up to Jack at critical parts throughout the novel and firmly believes in civility over barbarism. Ralph leads by example, but is not able to convince the majority of the castaways to follow his tribe. Ralph's leadership is undermined by Jack, who advocates for hunting and pleasurable activities.

Jack is a charismatic leader similar to Ralph. He possesses the ability to rally the boys and convinces them to follow his leadership. Jack's agenda differs from Ralph's as he proposes that the boys hunt and swim instead of maintaining the signal fire and constructing shelters. Jack uses intimidation and punishment to motivate his tribe, unlike Ralph. Jack's leadership can be described as tyrannical because he seldom takes other people's thoughts into consideration. Jack's tribe is the epitome of savage brutality. Ralph's tribe is the epitome of civility and structure.

Both boys understand the importance of bravery and intelligence. There are several scenes throughout the novel where both Jack and Ralph display courage in the face of adversity which gains them favor in the eyes of their followers. Although Jack overlooks several essential elements of survival and rescue, Jack is the one who suggests they use Piggy's glasses to start a fire and teaches the boys how to hunt. Both boys use objects that represent their tribes' allegiance. Ralph uses the conch as a symbol of authority while Jack uses the Lord of the Flies as a totem.