Ralph

Ralph is a righteous and moral character

a mildness about his mouth and eyes that proclaimed no devil

Ralph is a favourable and righteous character

a golden light danced and shattered just over his face

Ralph is powerful and confident compared to Piggy

returned as a fighter-plane...and machine-gunned Piggy

Ralph has a high status

Daddy taught me. He's a commander in the Navy

Ralph is closely connected to the conch and democracy

most obscurely, yet most powerfully, there was the conch. The being that had blown that...was set apart

Ralph and Jack are divided

two continents of experience and feeling, unable to communicate

Ralph prioritises the fire

"They let the bloody fire go out."

Ralph and Jack are divided by their disagreements

they were on different sides of a high barrier.

Ralph understands the importance of the conch and following rules

If I blow the conch and they don't come back; then we've had it...We'll be like animals. We'll never get rescued.

Ralph shows leadership

"I'm chief. I'll go. Don't argue."

Ralph is tempted by the rise of savagery

Ralph, carried away by a sudden thick excitement, grabbed Eric's spear and jabbed at Robert with it.

Ralph feels the urge to give in to savagery

The desire to squeeze and hurt was over-mastering.

Ralph prioritises being logical, but needs help (from Piggy) with decisions

would treat the day's decisions as though he were playing chess.The only trouble was that he would never be a very good chess player.

Ralph feels safe when following a crowd during scary moments

They were glad to touch the brown backs of the fence that hemmed in the terror and made it governable.

Ralph cherishes the conch

Ralph got up and went to the conch. He took the shell caressingly with both hands

Ralph can struggle to make logical decisions

that curtain flapped in his head and he forgot what he had been driving at.

Both the conch and Ralph convey morality and fragile influence

the conch lay at Ralph's feet, fragile and white.

Ralph prioritises long term success and rules over short term gain

"Which is better, law and rescue, or hunting and breaking things up?"

Ralph and Jack have a connection that causes Jack to grudge against him

there was that indefinable connection between himself and Jack; who therefore would never let him alone; never.

Ralph's democratic and proactive leadership gets him outcast

Lying there in the darkness, he knew he was an outcast.

Ralph loses his power towards the end

Ralph screamed, a scream of fright and anger and desperation.

Ralph being confident despite the destruction of his rule

His voice rose under the black smoke before the burning wreckage of the island

Ralph comes to realise how valuable Piggy's intelligence was and how evil humanity can be

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.

What Ralph symbolises

civilisation

democracy

order

responsibility

leadership

Ralph's relationship with Jack

initial friendship

power struggle

rivalry

disagreement

Ralph's relationship with Piggy

friendship

advice

trust

protection

Ralph's relationship with Simon

compassion

guidance

Ralph's allegorical character

Democratic leader with rules who prioritises long term progress over short term gain, he loses his power as the forces of savagery take over the island