A friendship can be considered to be one of the most complex and ever changing concepts that the human race tries to comprehend. In ”Lord of the Flies”: by William Golding, Piggy and Ralph, both as different in looks as they are in personality, are forced together by fate and to allie with one another for survival . Through the harsh experiences, that they battle through, an indestructible bond is formed. The friendship continuously develops from the reliance of Piggy upon Ralph at the beginning of the story, then to the alliance of both Piggy and Ralph as more tragedy struck, to their unbreakable bond which is formed, after the whole group falls apart. Both Piggy and Ralph’s personalities had a large amount of contrasts that determined their relationship at the beginning of the story.
Piggy was the outcast, due to his large awkward body, his thick glasses and his know-it-all personality. While Ralph on the other hand was the stereotypical image of an ordinary boy. Piggy had no friends, besides those that he lived with. Thus was not used to being among other children.
He quickly trusted, and latched onto Ralph, ignoring Ralph’s constant teasing . Ralph was insecure as all boys his age are, he didn’t really want to be caught liking the outcast so he teased him. “I don’t care what they call me, so long as they don’t call me what they used to call me at school…They used to call me Piggy” (Golding: pg. 11) Piggy confided to Ralph, asking him to be secretive, thinking that Ralph was his friend. When really he couldn’t care less about Piggy’s fate.
Ralph betrayed Piggy by announcing to all the other boys Piggy’s name, not really caring about the consequences it would have on Piggy and Ralph’s friendship. Piggy is hurt but quickly forgives and forgets, thinking that him and Ralph are friends. Ralph doesn’t really mind Piggy’s dependence upon him, but finds Piggy to be a bore and does not consider him to be a friend. “Piggy was a bore; his fat, his ass-mar and his matter of fact ideas were dull, but their was always a little pleasure to be got out of pulling his leg, even if one did this by accident” (Golding: pg. 65). Ralph joined the others in teasing him, especially about his asthma and his love and dependence upon his auntie.
Piggy tagged along with Ralph following Ralph’s rules to survive, always trying to get his two cents in without ever really succeeding, dodging all comments made by his peers. They both knew they were stuck together, but at this point no true bond had been formed. It was really just a one sided relationship. One side was for security and the other was simply just tolerance.
2As time passed on, more was endured by the two boys such as; the loss of one of the littl’uns in the fire;Jack’s vicious attitude and the fear of a beast, an alliance was formed between them. They both understood the problems the group of boys had to face, such as the struggle for power, and their neglect for the most important thing to worry about, getting rescued. The other boys placed more thought upon hunting then anything else. During this period Ralph began to realize Piggy’s true values and started to treat him fairly. Ralph was slowly becoming a person of individual thought. He broke away from the barriers the other boys had set up of outcasting Piggy.
“Jack! Jack! You haven’t got the conch. Let him speak” (Golding: pg. 91) He didn’t care what the other boys thought about Piggy being an outcast. Ralph stuck up for him so he would be treated equally and have the same opportunities as the other boys did. He knew that Piggy was a bit of a know it all yet he realized that some of his knowledge was useful and helpful, Ralph valued it as he did with others.
Still Ralph would sometimes sit and watch Jack degrade Piggy without intervening. Piggy knows that he needs Ralph in order to survive, because of the others hate towards him. Ralph was his only sense
