Lord of the Flies

Lord of the Flies

Imagine being stranded on an island with a group of people you don't know. Ralph and Piggy didn't know any of the boys until they met them. Would you work with them if your life depended on it? In the Freudian Theory there's the ID, ego, and superego. In the book "Lord of the Flies" Jack is the ID, Ralph Is the ego, and Piggy is the superego.

The ID is someone who only thinks about themselves and wants all the attention. They are all about getting what they want when they say it and not thinking about the consequences in the future. If their needs aren't given immediately, the result is a state anxiety or tension. The ID also wants power and control over the others. It craves what other people have won't stop until they get it. Immediately satisfying these needs is not always realistic or even possible. If we were ruled entirely by the pleasure principle, we might find ourselves grabbing things we want out of other people's hands to satisfy our own cravings.

The ego is someone who makes the decisions based on the ID and superego. It functions in both the conscious, preconscious, and unconscious mind. They do the thinking, planning and problem solving. In many cases, the ID's impulses can be satisfied through a process of delayed gratification. The ego will eventually allow the behavior, but only in the appropriate time and place.

The superego is someone who thinks ahead and leads people towards the right direction. They know right from wrong and they have moral standards. The superego provides guidelines from making judgments. According to Freud, the superego begins to emerge at around age five. There are two parts of the superego, the ego ideal and the conscience. The ego ideal includes the rules and standards for good behaviors. These behaviors include those which are approved of by parental and other authority figures. Obeying these rules leads to feelings of pride, value, and accomplishment. The conscience includes information about things that are viewed as bad by parents and society. These behaviors are often forbidden and lead to bad consequences, punishments, or feelings of guilt and remorse. It also acts to perfect and civilize our behavior.

The ID is Jack because he wants everything to be about him. The quote "I ought to be chief" shows that he is selfish and does not respect other people's ideas. Also he tries to place power in his own hands. When Jack said "I'll split up the choir--my hunters" it's showing how he likes to be in control of others. Jack says "my hunters" and it's like he thinks he possesses the other boys. Jack also says in the book "rescue? I'd like to catch a pig first." He talks about what he would alike, rather than what the others may prefer.

The ego is Ralph because he makes the decisions