Chapters 1 - 3: Ralph Character Analysis

Ralph is portrayed as the leader of the group of boys. He is the dominant male and holds much of the power on the island. Physically, Ralph is dominant: “there was his size, and attractive appearance; and most obscurely, yet most powerfully, there was the conch.” When choosing a chief, it is noted that Ralph is physically powerful, and fair mannered. The conch is another way that Ralph is dominant. Through his wielding of the conch, Ralph is able to direct order and become a dominant leader among the boys. After he blows the conch, he brings all of the boys together. It is also a major factor in his election as chief. When voting, the children realize his power in the conch and exclaim, “Let him be chief with the trumpet-thing.” With the conch and his physical strength, Ralph is a dominant leader.
Though Ralph is powerful and strong, we can see an underlying fear in him. He is defiant whenever challenged about being rescued. He refers to his father as all-powerful, and seems to think that he is a hero. Like many young boys, we see that Ralph looks up to his father, possibly recalling some events of Ralph trying to prove himself to his father. This may account for his strength on the island. As a Navy officer, Ralph’s father must be hard on him. When this is challenged, Ralph becomes defiant and even sensitive, as he deals with the inner conflict of his fear that he will never be rescued. Psychoanalytically, it seems that Ralph’s greatest fear is that he or his father will be inadequate. This is why Ralph is so dominant on the island, is that he is constantly trying to suppress inadequacy, as he is taught by his father, is a bad thing.
It is interesting to see how Ralph will respond to conflict in the upcoming chapters of this book. As a stronger character, it will be a hard road for him on the road to rescue.