Ralph and Jack become embroiled in competition for
leadership in Chapter Seven of Lord of the Flies as they hunt and
climb up the mountain. Behind Ralph the sinister presence of Roger looms at all times
as they search for the "beast." Having encountered "the ruin of a face," Ralph fled in
fear. In Chapter Eight, then, this vying for the leadership continues, but Ralph's
"panic flight down the mountainside" makes his speak in
defeat:
"So we
can't have a signal fire....We're
beaten."
Then, when Jack asks
"What about my hunters?" Ralph disparagingly retorts, "Boys armed with sticks." And,
Piggy chides Ralph, "Now you done it. You been rude about his
hunters."
So, Jack blows the conch and calls a meeting at
which he angrily attempts to turn everyone against Ralph by establishing that something
to be feared and respected as the beast hunts. Then, he tells the hunters that Ralph has
said that they are cowards and "no good." This, too, is an attempt to turn the boys
against Ralph. Then, he tells the boys that Ralph is not a hunter, implying that it will
take a hunter like himself to lead.
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