Chapter 10 -- Assessing Character Responsibility

1. Chapter 10--Assessing Character Responsibility Objective: To analyze various characters’ responsibility for their actions vis-à-vis an examination of their conscious and unconscious motivations.

2. In previous character analyses of characters from the novel, we have evaluated them based solely on the actions they have taken. However, in order to get a more well-rounded perception of these characters, we should also examine why they act in the ways that they do and if they should be held responsible for their actions. To do this, we must consider the following factors:

3. The circumstances in which the character finds himself (his social and physical environment) • The assumptions or mindset he brings to bear upon those circumstances (his identity and past experiences).

4. In other words, a devoutly religious rabbi may not necessarily be fully accountable for his actions were he to steal a loaf of bread from another prisoner in a World War II concentration camp, whereas a man who had been taught from birth by his parents that stealing is morally wrong may be held fully accountable for his actions when he mugs someone on the streets on New York.

5. Activity • Analyze one of the main characters from the story (Jack, Piggy, or Ralph) in terms of the above factors; in other words, explain the circumstances in which the character finds himself and his previous mindset that he brings to bear upon those circumstances (as far as you know). Once you’ve answered these questions, explain if your character is truly responsible for his actions or if he is merely doing what he needs to survive and should not be held accountable for his actions.

6. For Your Consideration: • Pp. 155-157; Piggy and Ralph realize consciously that Jack and others actually killed Simon in their attempt to kill “the Beast” at the end of chapter nine (and try to excuse their role in the ceremony at which Simon was killed), while Jack does not seem to realize this rationally.

7. Also For Your Consideration: • P. 160: One of the boys believes that he and others killed “the Beast” during their ceremony in at the end of chapter 9; however, Jack answers him with an emphatic “No.” It seems Jack needs the Beast to give him and the other boys in his tribe a purpose for their existence.

8. Consider this as well… • Pp. 161-168: Jack and his tribe decide to “steal fire” from Ralph and Piggy when they could just as easily have asked for it. • P. 168: After Jack’s raid on Piggy and Ralph’s camp, Ralph notices that the conch shell has not been stolen; it seems that Jack and the others no longer respect it as a symbol of authority or power.

9. HOMEWORK • Essay (½ page minimum): Choose one of the following hypothetical situations, then explain if the character involved in that situation is responsible for his actions or not and why: • Ralph kills Jack because he sees Jack as a threat to the survival of everyone on the island. • Piggy kills Jack to prevent Jack from killing a littleun. • Jack kills a littleun to prevent him from informing Ralph that Jack is going to raid Ralph’s camp. • Jack kills a littleun to prevent him from informing Ralph that Jack is going to raid Ralph’s camp. • Read Lord of the Flies chapter 11