My Bestfriend Just Called Jack Merridew, “So He’s Ed Sheeran Gone Bad”

Talking about platonic Jalph!!

The human is, as many animals are, a social creature. Since the beginning of humanity we have worked in groups to ensure survival. Even to the most introverted people establishing connections with other people is primordial, and to a child that is in a stage when is developing a sense of identity on its own having it’s fundamental for the normative development of said child's psyche.

Both Ralph and Jack are at their age in a stage classified as early teenagehood. A stage where kids start to gain a sense of identity and start drifting from their families and prioritizing their relationships with their equals, these relationships are ESSENTIAL for the normalized development of a child's mind.

The first time they meet Ralph takes a very judgmental approach towards Jack, calling him ugly. This is interesting cause it’s common for individuals to attribute bad qualities to people we consider unattractive and not want to associate with them, however since the beginning Ralph seems interested in Jack, most likely because he sees how Jack has power over the choir and, in the context, he has similar power, it’s only natural that people with similar status to want to associate with one another and that’s how their relationship starts, as two kids that have power above the rest.

This dynamic however seems to change when they climb the mountain together they already start forming a friendship, as kids of the age are more likely to consider better friends those who they do most activities with, and it seems that what i’m guessing are the first few weeks it could be theorized the time they aren’t tending to their duties they spend a fair amount of it together. Using the example of the scene where before Jack hunts the first pig, when coming back to the tribe, goes to talk to Ralph, check how the shelter building is going. This scene follows the two having a conversation, and while it is normal for the two kids that have taken the role of leaders to discuss the problems they are having regarding issues that affect them all, Is curious how the very first thing Jack does is go talk to Ralph.

Ralph's admiration towards Jack is no secret if you’ve read the book, but is it reciprocated? Does Jack hold him to at least a similar standard? The most common reason why two kids get into a conflict is because of issues of power in a group, feeling like he has the right to more power was what mainly led Jack to drifting from Ralph's tribe. But just desiring a higher status than Ralph is not motivation enough for wanting him dead, and you could argue that at this point Jack was probably reaching some level of disconnection from reality, and while that could be true, there’s something else that could be a determining factor on the pure hatred he develops towards Ralph. “Favour piggy like you always do” There are studies show that the feeling of being left out can lead to conduct of aggression, and feeling rejected by a close friend is something that for a twelve year old that doesn’t know about emotional regulation is devastating, “like you always do” implies that in Jacks eyes to Ralph Piggy is a bigger priority, that he is going to prefer Piggy, someone he deems as inferior, over him.

We don’t get enough time of these two alone to really determine how deep the platonic connection this they had, but for what we can see they at least seemed to garner an admiration towards each other, and it’s a shame they never get to actually talk their issues without one of them being almost hunted..

Golding has absolutely no idea about how a child's mind actually works, so this falls flat as he probably wrote the scenes of those two without considering the psychological implications. I’m no expert on the topic either and it's been a while since the last time I read the book but child social development is one topic that fascinates me and all my claims are backed with sources that I can provide if anyone wants me to.

I'm sorry if this is messy and probably doesn't make much sense but I we all agree someone needs to bring the topic to the table.

headshots of my roger and maurice designs yaaaayy

”yo what fandom merch do u have”

this is all i got 💔🥀 may or may not have made this post to show off the fact i have a conch

DUDE, YOU GUYS ARE GENUINELY AWESOME??? HERE'S SOME MORE JACK MERRIDEW ART I MADE BACK IN APRIL 🙏

WARNING: RAMBLING AHEAD!!!

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Just came back from band practice a while ago and notifications started pouring in. Seeing all my favorite LotF artists and enjoyers I've been looking up to for months interact with my posts is honestly heart warming.

Never thought I would finally have enough courage to post, getting such a positive outcome yesterday is SO motivating. I promise I'll post more!!!!!!!!

Red heads r soooooooooooooooo laaaaammmmeeeeeeeeeeeee right guys? I'm so right

TW: LOUD AUDIO AND FLASHING LIGHTS

Jack Merridew is NOT my fav, trust 🤔

if there’s ever a lord of the flies movie remake in this modern day and age can we pleeeease bring back ginger curly-haired jack and darker skinned simon. or better yet let the lotf fandom make the movie themselves

🤷

jack merridew the type of guy to purposely step on his friends shoes when walking behind them. NEVER walk in front of this psycho

roger is basically young gru from despicable me

i can 100% see roger saying “i vont to steel ze moon”

What Roger do you fw more? 1963 Roger or 1990 Roger?

1963 Roger supremacy

I liked 1990s Roger too, but stabbing Simon’s lizard with a big ass spear seemed like overkill.