These quotes describe Ralph characteristics through direct and indirect characterization. Ralph is a tall boy who has fair hair and attractive appearance. He is physically fit and one of the oldest boys on the island (12 years old). Ralph has wide shoulders, he also has a kind looking, friendly face. He is one of leaders of the boys on the island. Ralph is confident and has good leadership skills, most likely passed down from his father who is a commander in the navy. After a few months on the island Ralph’s physical appearance changed, his hair grew significantly and was covering his eyebrows, Ralph’s skin was also very tanned.
1. “The boy with fair hair lowered himself down the last few feet of rock and began to pick his way toward the lagoon” (Golding 1).
> This quote describes Ralph’s hair colour: fair (likely blond).
2. “He was old enough, twelve years and a few months, to have lost the prominent tummy of childhood and not yet old enough for adolescence to have made him awkward. You could see now that he might make a boxer, as far as width and heaviness of shoulders went, but there was a mildness about his mouth and eyes that proclaimed no devil.” (Golding PDF 11)
> This quote describes Ralph’s age (12) and physical appearance like his wide shoulders and kind looking face
3. “His [Ralph’s] fair hair was plastered over his eyebrows and he pushed it back.” (Golding PDF 90)
> This quote describes that Ralph’s hair has significantly grown since his arrival on the island and it is covering his eyebrows
4. “Something deep in Ralph spoke for him. ‘I’m chief. I’ll go. Don’t argue’” (Golding 155).
> This quote demonstrates the confident, leadership qualities in Ralph.
5. “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.” (Golding PDF 28)
>This quote describes more of Ralph’s physical characteristics, such as his size and attractive appearance. It also shows how the other boys view him as powerful because he has the conch.
6. “Ralph too was fighting to get near, to get a handful of that brown, vulnerable flesh. The desire to squeeze and hurt was over-mastering” (Golding 76).
> Ralph was raised with proper, innocent morals but the primitive savagery of the island is taking over.
7. “And in the middle of them, with filthy body, matted hair, and unwiped nose, Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart, and the fall through the air of the true, wise friend called Piggy” (Golding 248).
> Ralph’s appearance included: a dirty body, matted hair, and a filthy face. Ralph has feelings and empathy, as he was crying for the loss of a close friend.
8. “We can help them to find us. If a ship comes near the island they may not notice us. So we must make smoke on top of the mountain. We must make a fire.”
> Ralph was pretty smart, and thought it was important to focus on a signal fire for rescue.
9. “His mouth was tight and pale. He put back his hair very slowly… He forced his feet to move until they carried him out on to the neck of the island” (Golding 130).
10. “‘I could swim when I was five. Daddy taught me. He’s a commander in the Navy. When he gets leave he’ll come and rescue us.’” (Golding PDF 15)
>This quote shows us that Ralph is physically skilled, and is a good swimmer. His father is also a commander in the Navy which most likely gives Ralph good physical qualities.
