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Which character most clearly represents the primitive impulse?

a) Piggy
b) Simon
c) Jack
d) Ralph

1 Answer

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Final answer:

Jack from 'Lord of the Flies' is the character that most clearly represents primitive impulse, as he embodies the savagery and primal desires that emerge when societal norms are absent.

Step-by-step explanation:

The character that most clearly represents the primitive impulse in William Golding's Lord of the Flies is Jack. This is evident as Jack becomes increasingly obsessed with hunting and symbolizes the savagery that develops as the boys' civilized behavior deteriorates on the island. Unlike Ralph, who struggles to maintain order and civilization, or Piggy, who clings to logic and reason, or even Simon, who is a symbol of natural goodness and morality, Jack revels in the freedom from societal norms and gives into his barbaric instincts.

He paints his face like a barbarian, leads the hunt for pigs with aggressive fervor, and eventually forms his own tribe, completely governed by primal desires and violent impulses. The degeneration of Jack's character from a disciplined choir leader to a savage tribal chief vividly illustrates mankind's inherent attraction to power, violence, and the uncivilized aspects of human nature.

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