In 'Lord of The Flies', by William Golding, fear plays a huge part in how the boys react to being stranded on the island. Every action is controlled by fear, although the boys try to conquer their fears, it is impossible to do, because if they were to succeed they would feel no reason to survive or live. Fears differ from person to person, because of this tension rises between Ralph and Jack. They have differing opinions on what is important due to their fears. Ralph's biggest fear is that they will never be rescued, where as Jack's biggest fear is that they will be unable to kill a pig for meat. "You let the fire go out." Jack noticed Ralph's scarred nakedness, and the somber silence of all four of them. He sought charitable in his happiness, to include them in the thing that had happened. His mind was crowded with memories; memories of the knowledge that had come to them when they closed in on the struggling pig, knowledge that they had outwitted a living thing, imposed their will upon it, taken away it's life like a long satisfying drink (Lord of the Flies, 70). Ralph wasn't interested in the hunt; he wanted to build shelters, to survive the elements, and keep a smoky fire going, so they might be rescued. Jack wants meat, to do as he pleases, and power. Jack fears failure, this shows in his determination to be successful hunter. It also shows in his defiance of Ralph's authority. He is so afraid of failure that he wont stop trying to undermine him until he gets what he wants: to be chief. "See? See? There isn't a tribe for you anymore! The conch is gone-I'm chief!" (Lord of the Flies, 181). Jack believes that if he is not in power, he is a failure. .
When we are afraid, we feel safer if we have power, or if someone makes us believe that we have power. Ralph's democratic government falls apart by the end of the book, "There was no Piggy to talk sense. There was no solemn assembly for debate nor dignity of the conch" (Lord of the Flies, 196).
