Captain Beatty And Jack example essay topic

Tyrant, an absolute ruler who governs without restrictions. In the novels, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury and, Lord of the Flies by William Golding, tyrants are played by the characters of Captain Beatty, and Jack respectively. Through character development, society, and foil characters, the reality of the man behind the mask is brought to life. Through a disturbed society and a state of savagery, ruthless control can be instilled over an individual. There are many faces within one individual. When the reader was first introduced to Captain Beatty in Fahrenheit 451, he was a captain, in the local fire department.

We thought he was a good friend to his peers. However, this fire department did the total opposite of what firemen do now. The system was simple, everyone understood it. Books were for burning, along with the houses in which they were hidden. Guy Montag was a fireman along with Captain Beatty. After encounters with a teenage girl Clarissa, Guy questions his role in society, and wonders if what he's doing is right.

Beatty senses this, but thinks Guy would never hurt him. Beatty provokes Montag, he tries to reassure him of what he is doing is right. Beatty calls books dangerous weapons, yet he uses his own book learning to manipulate Montag cruelly. When Montag was sick, Beatty talked of the knowledge in literature". Magazines became a nice blend of vanilla tapioca. Books, so the damned snobbish critics said, were dishwater" (Bradbury, 1950, pg 57).

He made Montag yearn to read by using the book as a weapon of mind games. Beatty felt threatened by Montag, he tried to entice Guy into reading a book so he could punish him before he starts to revolt, which could turn into a city wide revolution. Even though Beatty and Montag were close friends, Beatty tried to manipulate Montag. Beatty craved power and was afraid Montag could take some of the power away from him. This shows how power can bring out one of many faces of an individual.

In the novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding, two of the many faces of humankind are shown, a state of a civilized and a state of a savagery society". Kill the pig! Cut his throat! Kill the pig! Bash him in!

(Golding, 1954. pg 125). When numerous British schoolboys were left stranded on a deserted island, two boy's named Piggy and Ralph found a conch shell. They blew into it to alert the rest of the lost schoolboys together. There was an election between two of the older boys Jack and Ralph, Ralph won the vote and was appointed leader.

Jack was outraged, he believed he should " ve been leader. Jack was an arrogant boy, he had no respect for anybody other then himself. Jack was the first schoolboy to transform into savagery, he struggles for power and control of the island, which Ralph possesses. When Jack blows the conch shell, Ralph's leadership is unofficially exterminated. At the beginning of the novel Ralph clearly stated that only the leader could call a meeting by blowing the conch shell. When Jack forms his own tribe many boys followed him, only a few including Ralph refused to join.

Savagery prevails against the civilized. Jack and the hunters plan to hang Ralph's head on a stick like the sow's. Again this shows how power can corrupt ones mind. Jack symbolizes the evil capability within humankind. A persons environment can affect one's mental capacity. In Fahrenheit 451's society, people are peaceful yet dreary.

The government wants people to be more alike than different, this could make anybody go insane. Beatty's society was a controlled one, all literature was banned. Beatty sensed some people in the society, namely Guy Montag, was rethinking his duty in society". I feel fat. I feel like I've been saving up a lot of things, and I don't know what. I might even start reading books" (Bradbury, 1950, pg 64) Beatty lectured Montag sympathetically, trying to take any doubt out of Guy's heart and mind. his insightful observations of the society he becomes too sympathetic to be a tyrant.

This is what he wants Montag to believe through all of his lectures. In the novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding, Jack's society transforms from civilized to savagery". come on! I'll creep up and stab-' The mask compelled them". (Golding, 1954 pg 67) When the British schoolboys first stepped foot on the island everything seemed okay from a civilized perspective. Although, the unwanted truth has risen on the island, they will survive by any means necessary. The island defeats Jack.

He has lost his battle with savagery, he is the first boy to convert. A sign of this is when he painted his face for the hunt, it was considered war paint for hunting. When Jack, the hunters, and their followers moved to Castle Rock, savagery took its toll. Ralph found out that the hunters are going to hang his head on a stick, as they did with the sow's. Humanity is strong, but when confronted with survival, it deteriorates. In literature, characters influence the thoughts and actions of other individuals.

This is referred to as character foil. In the novel Fahrenheit 451, Guy Montag brings out the real thoughts and ideas of Captain Beatty. .".. why don't you belch Shakespeare at me, you fumbling snob?" (Bradbury, 1950 pg 119) Montag inquires about the suitability of his job, Beatty recognizes this. Montag dearly wants to open a book and indulge in the entertainment that is literature. Beatty is close friends with Montag, although having dominance and control is more important to him. He doesn't want to take the chance of putting his power in jeopardy.

When Beatty realizes Montag's mental questioning, he tries whatever he can do to keep it to himself. He doesn't want Montag to spread his thoughts around the city. Beatty was once Montag's friend, although now he is playing mind games, and manipulating Montag's fragile mind. In the novel Lord of the Flies Jack is jealous of the power Ralph embraces. ".. because I'm chapter chorister and head boy.

I can sing C sharp (Golding, 1954 pg 18). With every move and every word Ralph speaks, the more Jack craves his power. Ralph rules without recognizing the fact that Jack will do anything to cease power. Jack, like everyone has a breaking point. When Jack blows the conch shell, this unofficially signifies the end of Ralph's rule on the island.

Jack has transformed from civilized to savagery. When Jack and the hunters move to Castle Rock, this was evident. Because Ralph won the election and had power over him, he wanted him dead. Ralph heard rumors that Jack was going to catch him and hang his head on a stick. All this for power, power defeats comradeship. "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely".

(Lord Acton) "There is danger from all men. The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with power to endanger the public liberty". (John Adams). Captain Beatty and Jack are taken hostage by power and control.

Jack is the better tyrant, he is more ruthless and can compare to the likes of Hitler, who captivated so many people. Beatty seems too sympathetic to act as a true tyrant. "From the saintly and single-minded idealist to the fanatic is often but a step". (Friedrich August von Hayek).

Reference Page Bradbury, R. (1950). Fahrenheit 451 New York: Random house Golding, W. (1954) Lord of the Flies Faber and Faber Limited.