Chapter 1 of LOTF, first establishes the innate tensions between civilization and savagery in the impromptu civilization of largely preadolescent boys. Restricted by their acquired tendency to follow rules and orders, the boys attempt at making some sort of civilization, similar to the one they had been brought up in. However, as the reality of their freedom sets in, the natural savage behavior attempts to free itself from the chains of moral society, causing full-blown conflicts between the remains of society and the savage island. These conflicts are foreshadowed in Chapter 1 with the introduction the all-powerful yet extremely fragile conch shell and the obvious struggle for power between Jack and Ralph. .
When Ralph and Piggy spot the conch shell early in the chapter, it becomes evident that the bespectacled Piggy represents the scientific and intellectual part of society for he knows the name and use of the conch. Although this knowledge could have been used to hold the power of the conch, Ralph is the stronger of the two and uses the conch to gain power. However powerful, the fragility of the conch is apparent. Used for summoning the wondering boys on the island, the conch represents law and order in the unstable society of easily influenced boys. This representation foreshadows the fragility of their spontaneously created society, therefore suggesting the eventual destruction of the order in the society as well as the physical demolition of the conch itself. At first, its power is respected and used peacefully, however it is fought over and abused frequently. The shell causes both order and conflict, especially between the appointed leader, Ralph, and the jealous hunter, Jack. .
While Ralph emerges as the leader of the group of stranded boys, it becomes apparent that Jack strives for Ralph's position, the first real conflict in the novel. Although the two acts rather chummy in the initial exploration of the island, Jack's obvious attempts at control show even before Ralph is given control of the group and his apparent frustration comes out even more with Ralph's election.
