Character Analysis of Roger from Lord of The Flies
Uploaded by crystal ice on Jun 11, 2006 |
|
|
Character Analysis of Roger from Lord of The Flies
On page 22 Golding describes Roger as, “A slight, furtive boy whom no one knew, who kept to himself with an inner intensity of avoidance and secrecy”. Roger is a very withdrawn character who does not appear to be concerned with social interaction, and keeps very much to himself, for when being introduced to the other boys, whom he would live with and be dependent on for company “He muttered that his name was Roger and was silent again.”(p.22)
However, he does not seem to have the need to express his feelings to others, although his behavior suggests a hate inside of him, swelling, and overcoming all other emotion, fear, loneliness, reason. “Sixty feet above Roger, several nuts, fibrous lumps as big as rugby balls, were loosed from their stems. They fell about him with a series of hard thumps and he was not touched. Roger did not consider his escape, but looked from the nuts to Henry and back again.” (p.62) Roger is not absent minded, as he is very much aware of what is going on around him. However, there is something mysterious about Roger, for “the shock of black hair down his nape and low on his forehead, seemed to suit his gloomy face and made what had seemed at first an unsociable remoteness into something forbidding.” (p.60)
It is hard to classify Roger as either a leader or a follower, as he appears to be neither. “Roger followed him, keeping beneath the palms and drifting casually in the same direction.”(p.61) However, at times, Roger leads, but is not a leader, for he does not think about what is best, but merely expects followers, “Roger and Maurice came out of the forest. They were relieved from duty at the fire and had come down for a swim. Roger led the way straight through the castles, kicking them over, burying the flowers, scattering the chosen stones.” (p.60)
Although Roger appears quite primitive for he lacks the ability to communicate and his unsatisfied anger, “He sat there crooning to himself and throwing sand at an imaginary Percival.” (P.61) there is still a barrier of the civilized world intercepting his psyche, and preventing him from becoming more primitive. “Roger gathered a handful of stones and began to throw them. Yet there was a space round Henry, perhaps six yards in diameter, into which he dare not throw. Here, invisible, yet strong was the taboo of the old life. Round the squatting child was the protection of parents and school, and policemen and the law. Roger’s arm was conditioned by a civilization that knew nothing of him and was in ruins.” |
|
|