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Jack Merridew

Jack, whose last name is Merridew, appears to be a threatening figure in the book. As the lead singer in the school choir, he holds a certain power over the other choirboys as they walk towards the beach to follow the first sound of the conch. He does not allow them to rest, despite the heat and fatigue of wearing full black uniforms and caps while they walk in two parallel lines toward the conch. Only when Simon faints does he show sympathy and eventually allows them to take a short break.
Jack is described as tall, thin, and bony... and his hair was red. His face was... freckled, and ugly without “silliness”. Jack is the one who leads the boys' to turn to savagery, or at least gives it a certain order. He is Ralph's chief nemesis; it is he who has brought with him a knife and who gradually becomes obsessed with hunting and killing the pigs on the island. It is these behaviors, which later lead to the murders of Simon, Piggy and nearly Ralph on the island, had grown-...

Posted by: Kelly G Hess

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