A Freudian Model in Lord of the Flies.
Dr Sigmund Freud was a revolutionary psychologist. His theories of the human mind have been debated for close to one hundred years, and surfaced in some extremely unlikely places. In William Golding's Lord of the Flies Jack represents the ID, Piggy the Superego and the Ego is portrayed by Ralph.
Freud describes the ID as the part of the brain that controls a human's instinctual drives. Jack says, " We need meat.- (p.89). Jack tries to solve the problems that are right in front of him, without any thought to the consequences. While Jack and the rest of the choir left the fire unattended to go hunt, a ship passed by. This ship could have seen the fire, if it was lit, and rescue the boys. Jack did not think of the possibility of a ship sailing by, though, when he and the "hunters- left to find a pig. The ID does not exist for planning ahead. It hungers for instant gratification. Jack asks " Who will join my tribe and have fun?'- (p.186). He is not worried about being rescued or what will happen to the boys if they are not. Jack just wants to feel good and be happy, no matter what the reality of the situation is.
In Freud's theory the ID is mostly sub-conscious, and this is why man's basic drives are urges, not rounded thoughts. The Superego, however, is not fully sub-conscious. About half of the Superego is in the conscious state of mind. This means that thoughts are well rounded and it is often referred to as one's "voice of reason-. Ralph thinks "Only I can't think. Not like Piggy."" (p.97). At this time it becomes clear to Ralph that Piggy is his voice of reason. The Superego is not always listened to, though. " If I say anything you say shut up, but if Jack or Maurice or Simon "'- (p. 56), Piggy yelled at Ralph with bitter realism. Throughout the entire novel Piggy tells Ralph what he "ought- to do, but for the most part Ralph ignores him.
