Who is Jack?
The complete name of Jack is Jack Merridew. Jack emerges as the antagonist of Golding's novel, Lord of the Flies who strives to fail every constrictive task of Ralph. As far as his physical features are concerned, he has red hair, blue eyes and he is the tallest of all the boys lost in the unknown island not to mention his bony posture. He is "iron-willed" and authoritative. Before being lost on the island, Jack is the head boy of his school. Therefore, he does not want his authority to be challenged by Ralph. The character of Jack has been used as a symbol of savagery and lust for power.
An Apostle of Evil
Jack is the voice of the primitive desires and the evil associated with it. His spree of evil begins when he is not chosen as the head of the English boys. Although he seems to be a civilized kid when he, himself asserts that,
We've got to have rules and obey them. After all, we're not savages. We're English, and the English are best at everything.
This is a problematic statement as it puts Jack among the civilized people who follow law and order. But the problem is solved in "English are the best at everything", indirectly saying that he was worthy of the power because he was good at singing "C sharp". In order to claim the power, he utilizes horse-trading and other uncivilized tactics like painting himself. Jack's evil nature is further amplified due to his red hair (a symbol of evil) and angry, and vengeful eyes. But is Jack thoroughly evil? Perhaps he played a game which went wrong,
He laid the conch with great care in the grass at his feet. The humiliating tears were running from the corner of each eye.
"I'm not going to play any longer. Not with you."
Perhaps Jack is shameful of things getting out of control from his hands.
His Ruthless Ruling
Jack gains power over Ralph by hook and crook. But he proves to be a ruthless ruler who can do everything for blood. He keeps a knife with him. At first, he feels hesitant to kill the pig. Yet he gathers the courage to pierce his knife into it. It is his love for blood that attracts more boys because the other ones are profoundly drawn by the slogan,
Kill the pig, cut his throat, spil his blood.
He is rather intoxicated in his power and primitive desires. He sits like an "idol". And he is unable to realize the gravity of the feast of killing which leads to the murder of Simon.
An Antithesis of Ralph
Jack is quite an antithesis of Ralph. Where Ralph stands as the voice of civilization and reason, Jack emerges as a symbol of evil and not-so-urban nature. Ralph uses Conch to unite his boys, Jack uses his knife to impose his order. Ralph carries everyone along with him while Jack carries his own desires with others. But their difference ends Ralph tears his clothes apart and paints himself like Jack. Both of them try to extend the limit of savagery. Therefore, Jack's influence of savagery is much stronger as it holds a child of reason, Ralph.
Conclusion
For the most part, Jack lacks the innocence of a child which turns him into a savage beast. But, in the end, he shows his childish mildness when he announces to end the "game" which went out of his hands.
