piggy
...ciates himself with Ralph in order to secure his position as Ralph’s companion. This is a decision that Ralph would later come to appreciate. Little did Ralph know that the duties of his position would later lead him to console in Piggy. Piggy willingly listens to Ralph and together they try to protect the island from Jack’s menacing ways. Piggy is comfortable with being seen as a right hand man in order to acquire a friend and provide assistance to the survival of the community. In the beginning of the novel, Piggy does not act as Ralph’s therapist, but he does provide him with some words of wisdom. Ralph often returns the favor by reprimanding and ridiculing Piggy for his innate sense of concern. When Ralph tells Piggy to shut up after he alerts him about the dangers of angering Jack, Ralph’s unappreciative behavior is revealed (125). Piggy also expresses his fear to Ralph about what would happen if Jack took power on the island. Ralph, possibly to his own dismay, ignores Piggy’s pre-emptive warning and continues to trust Jack as a valuable hunter. Piggy, nonetheless, remains by Ralph’s side as a loyal companion. Piggy’s desire to continue to help Ralph, despite his battered self-image, reveals Piggy’s genuinely kind personality. Ralph later realizes that his very existence depends on the care and nurturing that Piggy so graciously offers. Toward the end of the novel, the deteriorating condition of the island quickly takes its toll on Ralph’s confidence as a leader. Piggy now serves Ralph as a friend who could reassure him that everything will turn out well and that he can persuade Jack to re-think his evil policies. Ralph finally becomes conscious of Piggy’s role as an almost omnipotent being that can resolve any conflict. Piggy comforts Ralph about his position as a chief and the murder of Simon, and advises him to use the conch shell to summon a meeting where they would try to reach a peace agreement(156). Such supportive speeches helped Ralph soon gain the confidence that he needs to re-civilize the boy’s of the island. Piggy’s natural ability to give Ralph encouragement and intelligent solutions to his problems most definitely acquires Piggy his position as Ralph’s confidant. The quintessential image of a hero that has been burned into the publics’ minds often overshadows the weaknesses that he/she may posses. Audiences also tend to ove...