A Twelve Year Old Leader

I decided to read a few classics while sitting on the beach during a recent vacation. My wife has been complaining for years that I do not read “real” literature. I must admit, most of my reading is non-fiction and mostly business oriented. “I can’t believe Dad is reading a book!” There were several snide comments during the first day. I finished my first book, “Lord of the Flies” in just two days - not a hard read. It was my wife’s recommendation.

“I read it in high school and it was creepy.” she said.

“Yeah?” I was intrigued.

“You will love it.” she said.

I read the flap and was immediately sucked in. I grabbed Edgar Allan Poe’s tales and walked out of the book store feeling quite bookish.

I thought I had read the book years ago, but if so, I remembered none of it. The book is allegorical and the author demonstrated a keen understanding of challenges that come with leadership. The main character, Ralph is chosen to be chief of the island. The premise of the story is wonderful - a bunch of young boys stranded on an island with no adults to control them.

Ralph is twelve, yet demonstrates leadership qualities that rival some of our “leaders” today. Ralph and his new friend he named Piggy (the author describes him as fat) meet another group of boys, choir boys lead by a tall yet unattractive, Jack.

Ralph thought that Jack had a “voice of one who knew his own mind.” The author masterfully describes how Ralph is voted chief over Jack, who is already leading the largest group of boys:

“The toy of voting was almost as pleasing as the conch. Jack started to protest but the clamor changed from the general wish for a chief to an election by acclaim of Ralph himself. None of the boys could have found good reason for this; what intelligence had been shown was traceable to Piggy, while the most obvious leader was Jack. But there was a stillness about Ralph as he sat that marked him out; there was his size, and attractive appearance; and most obscurely, yet most powerfully, there was the conch. The being that had blown that, had sat waiting for them on the platform with the delicate thing balanced on his knees, was set apart.”

I love William Golding’s writing. There is so much packed in that one paragraph.

Jack thought he should be the chief and protested about the vote. No one really knew what kind of leader he was, just that he lead a group of choir boys. This is hardly a reason to assume he would make the best leader.

Even though Jack lead the group of choir boys, did that guarantee that he was authentic? How many leaders today lack authenticity? Ralph called for the vote. He wanted to give the boys the chance to pick their leader. He wanted a democratic vote. He was real.

Piggy is the most intelligent of all the boys, yet the boys would not even consider him. Being intelligent did not qualify him to be a leader. He is overweight, insecure, has a spectacle, and asthma. He is a liability.

All the boys felt that Jack was the most obvious choice. The point of view is omnipotent, so we get the collective impression of the boys. He was strong and aggressive.

Ralph had a stillness about him. His maturity was beyond his years. His size and attractive appearance were important to the boys. A powerful demonstration of Ralph’s innate leadership abilities, yet not consciously understood was the conch shell that he used as a way to summon the boys for meetings. It brought order to the boys. If a boy had the conch shell, he could speak at the assembly.

Ralph was able to keep his focus on the primary goal - to get off the island. Despite the challenges he stayed true to his quest to be discovered by a passing ship. Jack became obsessed with leadership itself and power. He demonstrated that absolute power corrupts absolutely.

If you have never read the book, pick up a copy. Although the underlying message is how man will always abandon civility with savagery, there are wonderful examples of excellent and abysmal leadership.