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Illustrated portrait of Ralph

A character in Lord of the Flies

Ralph

Ralph is elected chief because of his confidence, appearance, and possession of the conch.

The book

Cover of Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Lord of the FliesWilliam Golding, 1954

Schoolboys build a society from scratch and discover how quickly rules can give way to fear and violence.

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Who they are in the book

Spoiler-free

Ralph is elected chief because of his confidence, appearance, and possession of the conch. He wants rescue and gradually learns that leadership requires tedious work other boys do not value. He participates at the edge of Simon’s killing and carries guilt afterward. Hunted by Jack’s tribe, he reaches the beach and is rescued. His final breakdown shows that survival has not restored his earlier innocence.

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