Final answer:
Jack's internal conflict in 'Lord of the Flies' illustrates the overarching theme of civilization vs. savagery, as his civilized upbringing clashes with emerging savage impulses.
Step-by-step explanation:
In William Golding's novel Lord of the Flies, the internal conflict within Jack is fundamental in developing the theme of civilization vs. savagery. At the start, Jack still feels the constraints of his former civilized life, which is in direct conflict with his emerging impulses towards savagery. As the story progresses, Jack's internal conflict intensifies; his innate desire for power and dominance overcomes his civilized traits, leading him down a path of savagery. This battle within him is emblematic of the broader struggle that all the boys face on the island, which is the pull between the order of civilization and the chaos of savagery. Golding uses Jack's transformation from a disciplined choir boy to a primal hunter to reveal the thin veneer of society and how quickly it can erode, thus emphasizing the theme of civilization vs. savagery. By succumbing to his basal instincts, Jack becomes the embodiment of the savagery that Golding implies lurks in all humans, awaiting its chance to emerge when the trappings of civilization fall away.