Ralph

Ralph is the first boy introduced in the story, and is established as the protagonist. He is elected as the leader of the boys instead of Jack, and represents civilization and order. Rather than playing as the other boys do, Ralph focuses on building huts and maintaining the fire in attempts to get rescued. When his rules aren’t followed, Ralph calls meetings with the conch, which is his main means of control.

Ralph resents Jack and the hunters for not helping with shelters and their lack of commitment to the fire, but remains friends with Jack in the beginning of the story and even participates in a hunt with them. However, Ralph and Jack become clear enemies as civilization starts to decay and the hunters turn to their savage instincts. Jack’s control increases while Ralph’s falls, culminating in the savages turning on Ralph’s group and leaving. Ralph realizes that everyone is savage at their core, and although he comes close to succumbing to it when he witnesses the savages killing Simon, he ultimately refuses to become savage like Jack. While this knowledge results in Ralph’s loss of innocence, it also allows him to keep his sanity long enough to be rescued.