From my point of view, the impact that the beast has on the group is one of the most influential on its power dynamics. In chapter six of William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, Beast from Air, a parachutist arrives on the island. The boys have been experiencing nightmares about a beast and the ‘biguns’ are convinced there is some kind of beast. In this novel, there is a place of murderousness in the world of grown-ups outside the island. The dead parachutist symbolises the expression of evil and darkness on the island. It is evident that the appearance is dead, but the wind gives it life. Sam ‘n’ Eric spot the figure and they immediately tell the rest of the boys they saw an angry beast chasing after them. They identify the figure as a beast but do not recognise that the figure is really a human. ‘Then the sleeping leviathan breathed out, waters rose, the weed streamed, and the water boiled over the table rock with a roar. Therefore was no sense of the passage of waves; only this minute-long and rise and fall. This quote implies that the so called beast has a bad presence and is waiting for an inevitable event. The death of the stature is an indication of more deaths to come. It gives the boys enthusiasm to become savage and intensifies the fight to survive on the island. Golding used this to show how civilisation can turn into savagery quickly and that good can become bad. In the novel, Ralph and Piggy get involved in the tribal dance that leaded onto the killing of Simon with Jack and his tribe. This indicates how simple it is to get involved in a mob mentality.

On the contrary, the affect of Jack on the group is another influential factor on its power dynamics. He was a choirmaster, head boy at his school and experienced ascendancy in controlling others by taking command of the choir in an aggressive way. He likes to make rules and punishes the people who break them. The conflict on the island begins when Jack aims to dominate the group and does not want to work with Ralph. He challenges Ralph about the power of the conch and proclaims that the rule of the conch does not matter on some parts on the island. Jack symbolises evil, violence and a dark side of humanity. It is seen that Jack ran close to the ground and shows he acts like an ape stealthily looking to hunt something. In chapter 11, Castle Rock, Jack were gathered like a solid mass of menace with their sharp spears waiting for the appearance of Ralph and Piggy waiting to attack. Stones were thrown towards them as Ralph got out the way and the tribe yelled in excitement. The rock hit Piggy and another brutal murder had occurred. ‘The rock struck Piggy a glancing blow from chin to knee; the conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist. Piggy, saying nothing, with no time for even a grunt, travelled through the air sideways from the rock, turning over as he went.’ This quote indicates that the Rock was so powerful it took Piggy out completely.

A crucial event that hugely impacted on the group power dynamics of the group was the death of Piggy. Piggy was the one who preserved the conch and was an assistant and wise helper of Ralph; he informed Ralph of ways to hold his leadership. Piggy represents a person who stands up for the right thing to do. He is an attentive listener that does not betray or harm anyone. Piggy’s death was deliberate and the evil had beaten the good. Without Piggy’s reason, the boys and especially Ralph, they would have been unable to maintain order. The breaking of Piggy’s glasses of importance because not only affects Piggy but it represents the breakdown of law. Piggy’s death is foreshadowed in Chapter 10 when Roger and the other hunters talk about killing pigs for food and meat. “The chief said we got to challenge everyone.” “You couldn’t stop me coming if I wanted.” “Couldn’t I? Climb up and see.” Roger clambered up the ladder-like cliff. “Look at this.” A log had been jammed under the topmost rock and another lever under that. Robert leaned lightly on the lever and the rock groaned. A full effort would send the rock thundering down to the neck of land. Roger admired. “He’s a proper chief, isn’t he?” Robert nodded. “He’s going to take us hunting.” This quote signifies the future events of murder that is coming and shows how wolf-like the packs of boys are. Golding shows through this quote how much the boys admire Jack and how are enthusiastic the group are about hunting.