How is the conflict resolved in Lord of the Flies? In William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, the tension between civilization and savagery is at the heart of the story, embodied by the characters Ralph and Jack. As the boys become more divided and violence escalates, readers are left wondering how—or if—their conflict will ever end. In this article, we’ll explore how the main conflict is ultimately resolved and what this resolution means for the characters and themes of the novel.
How is the conflict resolved in Lord of the Flies?
The central conflict in Lord of the Flies—the struggle between Ralph (representing civilization and order) and Jack (representing savagery and chaos)—reaches its climax in the final chapters. As Jack and his hunters pursue Ralph with the intention of killing him, the tension on the island is at its highest. However, this conflict is abruptly resolved when a naval officer arrives on the beach.
The arrival of the officer interrupts the violence and brings an end to the boys’ descent into savagery. The officer’s presence restores authority and order, forcing the boys to confront what they have become. The book describes this moment:
“A naval officer stood on the sand, looking down at Ralph in wary astonishment.”
Ralph’s reaction shows how deeply affected he is by what has happened:
“Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart, and the fall through the air of the true, wise friend called Piggy.”
With the arrival of civilization in the form of the officer, “the island was scorched up like dead wood—Simon was dead—and Jack had… turned into something unrecognizable.” The naval officer shows up and stops Ralph and Jack from fighting, bringing their time on the island to an end.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the conflict between Ralph and Jack in Lord of the Flies is brought to an end by the unexpected arrival of a naval officer. The arrival of the naval officer breaks up the boys’ fighting and puts a stop to their violence, ending the struggle between civilization and savagery on the island. The officer’s arrival saves Ralph and makes the boys realize what they’ve done.