These Jack Lord of the Flies Quotes give an in-depth analysis of Jack’s character development throughout “Lord of the Flies.”
Jack’s quotes are taken from the book, and page numbers are provided so readers can follow along.
Lord of The Flies Quotes With Page Numbers
Jack Lord of the Flies Quotes With Page Numbers and Meanings
1. “I ought to be chief…because I’m chapter chorister and head boy. I can sing C sharp.”
~William Golding, Lord of The Flies, Jack, Chapter 1, Page 22
Jack’s quote reveals his arrogant attitude toward his peers. He believes that his superior rank as chapter chorister and head boy entitles him to be the leader despite not considering the opinions of others.
He also implies that his singing ability is a way to prove his worthiness for the role of chief.
2. “His specs – use them as burning glasses! “
~William Golding, Lord of The Flies, Jack, Chapter 2, Page 40
This quote from Lord of the Flies demonstrates the boys’ descent into savagery and their disregard for Piggy’s intelligence.
They use his glasses, representing the power of knowledge and progress, to light a fire, symbolizing the abandonment of their civilized ways.
By reducing Piggy’s glasses to a tool for destruction, Golding shows how quickly the boys have succumbed to a violent, primitive state of existence.
20 Piggy Quotes With Page Numbers
3. “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. So we’ve got to do the right things.”
William Golding, Lord of The Flies, Jack, Chapter 2, Page 42
In this quote from Jack early in the novel, he emphasizes the importance of rules and order to maintain their Englishness and civilization. He asserts that since they are English, they should do the right things and cannot be savages.
Unfortunately, this idea of following rules and order slowly dissipates as the story progresses.
4. “I thought I might kill.”
William Golding, Lord of The Flies, Jack, Chapter 3, Page 51
Jack’s desire to kill symbolizes his descent into savagery, a transformation seen throughout the novel. His willingness to take human life shows his allegiance to civilization wanes, and he embraces his darker instincts.
Additionally, this quote highlights his craving for power and dominance, as he wants to impose himself over the other boys on the island.
5. “Eat! Damn you!”
William Golding, Lord of The Flies, Jack, Chapter 4, Page 74
Jack’s quote, “Eat! Damn you!” conveys a sense of urgency and anger, with the imperative verb “Eat!” followed by the exclamation “Damn you!” implying a strong emotion.
The sentence structure of this phrase is characteristically simple, comprising two succinct words that are nonetheless powerful in their impact.
Its meaning is clear: Jack expresses frustration and annoyance and calls on the listener to take immediate action.
6. “Bollocks to the rules! We’re strong – we hunt! If there’s a beast, we’ll hunt it down! We’ll close in and beat and beat and beat”
~William Golding, Lord of The Flies, Jack, Chapter 5, Page 91
Jack’s quote suggests that he rejects the idea of following rules and embraces power and savagery.
His suggestion of closing in and beating the beast indicates that he is more interested in fighting and dominating than respecting and abiding by rules.
This quote reveals Jack’s inner struggle between the civilized and savage sides of himself, ultimately leading him to choose the latter.
7. “I’m not going to play anymore. Not with you… I’m not going to be a part of Ralph’s lot— Sharpen a stick at both ends. No! How could we–kill–it?”
~William Golding, Lord of The Flies, Jack, Chapter 10, Page 160
This quote from Jack highlights his struggle between his desire to abide by the rules and stay with Ralph’s group and his newfound urge to become a savage hunter.
It also reveals his fear of killing and realizing that survival in their new environment will take more than words.
Ultimately, Jack has begun to sacrifice his conscience and morality to survive and gain power.
20 Ralph Lord of the Flies Quotes With Page Numbers
8. “He capered toward Bill, and the mask was a thing on its own, behind which Jack hid, liberated from shame and self-consciousness.”
~William Golding, Lord of The Flies, Jack, Chapter 4, Page 64
Jack’s quote from Lord of the Flies reveals his inner desire to be liberated from the constraints of society, allowing him to express himself more freely and without shame.
By putting on the mask, Jack can become a savage and indulge in violent behavior.
The mask physically represents his newfound freedom as his actions become increasingly removed from any sense of morality or accountability.
9. “Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Spill her blood.”
William Golding, Lord of The Flies, Jack, Chapter 4, Page 69
The phrase “Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Spill her blood” in Jack Lord’s novel The Lord of the Flies symbolizes the degeneration of the boys’ civilized manners and the slow embrace of savagery.
Jack uses a chant to role-play killing the pig, the only representation of femininity in the novel, and indicates a desire to rid the island of this symbol. Further, it shows the never-ending spiral of violence and the power of peer pressure.
10. “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 its life like a long satisfying drink.”
William Golding, Lord of The Flies, Jack, Chapter 4, Page 70
Jack’s quote shows how the boys finally gained power when they successfully killed a pig and how they could impose their will on a living creature and take away its life.
It also conveys the satisfaction they felt in being able to do this and how it created memories that would stay with them for a long time.
11. “He snatched his knife out of the sheath and slammed it into a tree trunk. Next time there would be no mercy,”
William Golding, Lord of The Flies, Jack, Chapter 1, Page 31
Jack’s quote from Lord of the Flies reflects his growing willingness to give into his instinctive desires and disregard his civility in favor of brutality and violence.
His behavior is a warning sign of the descent into savagery that all the boys on the island will soon face, showing how their primitive instincts are beginning to overpower the sense of civilization they had when they first arrived.
12. “We don’t want you… three’s enough.”
~William Golding, Lord of The Flies, Jack, Chapter 1, Page 24
This quote by Jack from Lord of the Flies speaks to the power dynamics and themes of leadership and hierarchy that are established early on in the novel.
It is a clear rejection of Ralph, potentially viewed as threatening Jack’s authority.
The phrase “three’s enough” implies that Jack is content with the power dynamic established among the group, and any further additions could be potentially disruptive.
Thus, this quote serves as a warning to Ralph and establishes the tension between him and the others.
13. “He’s like Piggy. He says things like Piggy. He isn’t a proper chief.”
~William Golding, Lord of The Flies, Jack, Chapter 8, Page 126
This quote from Jack reveals his opinion that intelligence and strength are incompatible.
He does not believe Ralph can be a leader because he talks and thinks like Piggy, whom Jack considers too weak to be chief. Jack believes that a leader needs to be strong and not just intelligent.
14. “The thing is – fear can’t hurt you any more than a dream.”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, Chapter 5, Page 82
Jack is trying to emphasize the powerlessness of fear by comparing it to a dream; he is asserting that fear is just an illusion and cannot harm anyone.
He also emphasizes the importance of being brave and facing fear rather than letting fear control and dictate your actions.
Furthermore, he is trying to inspire the boys to think rationally and logically instead of succumbing to the irrationality of fear.
15. “We shall take fire from the others”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, Chapter 10, Page 161
Jack’s quote, “We shall take fire from the others,” emphasizes his desire for power and disregard for Ralph’s rules. He is willing to take whatever he needs from others to achieve his own goals, showing his savage and selfish nature. His statement also hints at the island’s destruction due to his selfish actions.
Lord of the Flies Quotes About Fire
16. “And another thing. We can’t have everybody talking at once. We’ll have to have ‘Hands up’ like at school.” . . . “Then I’ll give him the conch. . . . I’ll give the conch to the next person to speak. He can hold it when he’s speaking.”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, Jack, Chapter 2, Page 33
17. “Conch! Conch!” shouted Jack. “We don’t need the conch anymore. We know who ought to say things. What good did Simon do speaking, or Bill, or Walter? It’s time some people knew they’ve got to keep quiet and leave deciding things to the rest of us.”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, (Jack), Chapter 6, Page 101-02
Quotes from Lord of the Flies about Jack being a dictator
“I ought to be chief… because I’m captain chorister and head boy. I can sing C sharp.”
~William Golding, Lord of The Flies, Jack, Chapter 1, Page 22
“I agree with Ralph. 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. So we’ve got to do the right things.”
~William Golding, Lord of The Flies, Jack, Chapter 2, Page 42
“We’re strong – we hunt! If there’s a beast, we’ll hunt it down! We’ll close in and beat and beat and beat – !”
~William Golding, Lord of The Flies, Jack, Chapter 5, Page 91
“He’s like Piggy. He says things like Piggy. He isn’t a proper chief.”
~William Golding, Lord of The Flies, Jack, Chapter 8, Page 126
“We don’t want you… three’s enough.”
~William Golding, Lord of The Flies, Jack, Chapter 1, Page 24
Jack Abusing Power Lord of the Flies Quotes
“I ought to be chief… because I’m captain chorister and head boy. I can sing C sharp.” –
~William Golding, Lord of The Flies, Jack, Chapter 1, Page 22
“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. So we’ve got to do the right things.”
~William Golding, Lord of The Flies, Jack, Chapter 2, Page 42
“His specs – use them as burning glasses!”
~William Golding, Lord of The Flies, Jack, Chapter 2, Page 40
“We’re strong – we hunt! If there’s a Piggy’swe’ll hunt it down! We’ll close in and beat and beat and beat -!”
~William Golding, Lord of The Flies, Jack, Chapter 5, Page 91
“The mask was a thing on its own, behind which Jack hid, liberated from shame and self-consciousness.”
~William Golding, Lord of The Flies, Jack, Chapter 4, Page 64
“He’s (Ralph) like Piggy. He says things like Piggy. He isn’t a proer chief.”
~William Golding, Lord of The Flies, Jack, Chapter 8, Page 126
“…fear can’t hurt you any more than a dream. There aren’t any beasts to be afraid of on this island… Serve you right if something did get you, you useless l”Don’t cry-babies!”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, Jack, Chapter 5, Page 82
“We’ll hunt. I’m going to be chief.”
~William Golding, Lord of The Flies, Jack, Chapter 8, Page 133
“His tone conveyed a warning, given out of the pride of ownership, and the boys ate fast while there was still time.”
~William Golding, Lord of The Flies, The Narrator about Jack, Chapter 9, Page 149
These quotes demonstrate how Jack is willing to do anything to gain power and authority, including appointing himself as chief without consulting the others and using intimidation tactics to make the others obey him.
It also shows how Jack prioritizes his needs over the group’s, as his desire for power hinders the boys’ efforts to survive and get rescued.
Jack From Lord of The Flies Character Analysis
In William Golding’s novel “Lord of the Flies,” Jack embodies both the inherent yearning for leadership and the darker facets of human nature.
Initially, he’s portrayed as an authoritative figure who justifies his bid for leadership based on his status as chapter chorister and head boy (Chapter 1, Page 22).
He displays an insight into the functional necessity of rules and community, proclaiming the importance of English discipline (Chapter 2, Page 42).
However, as the situation of the stranded boys intensifies, Jack’s personality undergoes a drastic transformation, driven by his primitive instincts.
His desire to hunt is vividly expressed with impassioned rhetoric, emphasizing strength and violence (Chapter 5, Page 91), a stark contrast to his previous advocacy for order.
His eventual dismissal of rational voices, likening dissenters to Piggy, whom he deems an inadequate leader (Chapter 8, Page 126), coupled with his disregard for democracy and the conch system (Chapter 6, Page 101-02), underscores his descent toward dictatorship.
Jack’s rule is characterized by coercion and abuse of power, symbolized by his proclamation that “three’s enough” (Chapter 1, Page 24), excluding those who challenge his authority.
His dictatorial style is rooted in the belief that his English heritage makes him superior. He uses this as a rationale to exert control and drive his vision of order through dominance.
This is further exacerbated by his shift from an upholder of rules to an outright rebellion against the established order. He leads his faction with an iron fist, pushing aside the initial semblance of democracy that Ralph tries to instill.
The evolution of Jack’s character from a figure of assumed leadership to a ruthless autocrat reflects Golding’s exploration of the fragility of civilization and the ease with which a descent into savagery can occur when power is left unchecked, and primal instincts are unleashed.
Lord of the Flies Characters Symbolism
What does Jack symbolize in Lord of the Flies with quotes?
Jack symbolizes the savage side of human nature in Lord of the Flies. As demonstrated by his quote, “I ought to be chief… because I’m captain chorister and head boy. I can sing C sharp,” Jack desires power and control over the other boys, which further illustrates his savagery.
As the novel continues, this savagery deepens, and Jack eventually turns his sights toward hunting Ralph, emphasizing the power of fear and the dominance of savagery.
These quotes emphasize his lust for power and domination and show his character developing from a leader to a savage hunter.
What are the quotes of Jack’s violence in Lord of the Flies?
“We shall take fire from the others
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, Jack, Chapter 10, Page 161
“His specs – use them as burning glasses!”
~William Golding, Lord of The Flies, Jack, Chapter 2, Page 40
“We’re strong – we hunt! If there’s a beast, we’ll hunt it down! We’ll close in and “eat and “eat and beat -!”
~William Golding, Lord of The Flies, Jack, Chapter 5, Page 91
“No! How could we – kill – it?”
~William Golding, Lord of The Flies, Jack, Chapter 10, Page 160
“We don’t want you… three’s enough.”
~William Golding, Lord of The Flies, Jack, Chapter 1, Page 24
“Fear can’t hurt you any more than a dream. There aren’t any beasts to be afraid of on this island… Serve you right if something did get you, you useless lot of cry-babies!”
~William Golding, Lord of the Flies, Jack, Chapter 5, Page 82
How is Jack presented as evil?
Jack is presented as evil throughout the novel as he attempts to take power away from Ralph and uses fear tactics to keep the other boys in line.
He also enjoys indulging the boys’ violent desires and resorts to terrorizing and threatening them when his plans fail.
Furthermore, he trains the boys to be armed at all times and refers to them as “hunters,” showing a complete disregard for innocence.
What does Jack obsess over killing?
Jack obsessively kills pigs throughout the novel. He sees it as a way to gain power and control and is driven by his thirst for blood. He also uses it to terrorize the other boys, showing them his dominance over them.
How does Jack manipulate his tribe?
Jack manipulates his tribe by using fear tactics, such as slamming his knife into a tree to create a sense of intimidation, lies, and promises of power and authority.
He also uses his hunting skills and painting his face to create a mystique around himself, allowing him to maintain control over his followers.
Why does Jack paint his face?
Jack paints his face in Lord of the Flies to express his savagery and dominance. Through this act, he can intimidate the other boys, who join his tribe in fear. Painting his face also symbolizes his descent into the depths of human nature, where his violent desires and impulses consume him.
How does Jack abuse his power in Chapter 10?
In Chapter 10, Jack starts abusing his power by belittling Ralph and making the group think he is an incompetent leader. He also manipulates the group by attempting to control the conch and killing Piggy in an extreme move to suppress an uprising.
How does Jack get hurt in Chapter 7?
In Chapter 7, Jack is injured while hunting when he falls and gashes his leg with his knife. His injury becomes infected, and he is bedridden for a few days when Ralph and the other boys take up his responsibilities.
Jack can eventually continue leading the tribe, but his injury reminds him of his unchecked savagery.
Sources Cited:
- ipl.org/essay/Jack-In-Lord-Of-The-Flies-Quote
- bartleby.com/essay/Jack-Lord-Of-The-Flies-Quote-Analysis
- cram.com/essay/Rhetorical-Analysis-Of-Ralph
- kidadl.com/quotes/best-lord-of-the-flies-quotes-with-meanings
- researchedworks.com/lord-of-the-flies-quotes
- majortests.com/essay/Jack-In-Lord-Of-The-Flies-Quotes
- literarydevices.net/lord-of-the-flies-quotes/
- tckpublishing.com/lord-of-the-flies-quotes/
Conclusion
In conclusion, Jack symbolizes the dark side of human nature. He represents the savagery within us and the temptation to give in to our primal instincts.
Jack opposes Ralph, who represents the civilized side of human nature. While both boys are essential to the story, Jack is clearly the more interesting and complex character.
Jeremy Mortis, founder of Ageless Investing, applies a rigorous analytical approach (the SPARK framework) to distill timeless wisdom and contextualized quotes from classic literature, saving you time while deepening understanding. Learn more about Jeremy’s unique background and methodology on his author bio page.