Ralph Tragic Hero in Lord of the lies
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"No man chooses evil because it is evil; he only mistakes it for happiness, the good he seeks." This quote, by Mary Wollstonecraft, is very similar to Ralph's situation, in the novel, Lord of the Flies. Ralph's yearning for happiness almost causes him to be murdered. In the novel, Ralph is a tragic hero because he has a tragic flaw. A tragic hero is defined as one who holds a high position in the novel, possesses a tragic flaw that causes him to make a mistake and experience a downfall, and he undergoes a drastic transformation. Ralph, the main character, fits the criteria of a tragic hero. As the chosen leader in the beginning of the novel, Ralph's refusal to conform to the ideals of Jack's newly developed tribe, leads to his downfall.
Ralph's power and influence over the other boys are extremely secure at the beginning of the novel. Ralph establishes leadership after the plane he is traveling on crashes and lands on a tropical island. Ralph possesses a conch, which symbolizes order and civilization...