As he is about to embark, Simon mumbles, perhaps in an attempt to comfort him, that he doesn’t believe in the beast; Ralph “answered him politely, as if agreeing about the weather. ‘No. I suppose not.’” British culture is famed for such civilized reserve in emotional times; by the standards of the society he’s left behind, Ralph is a gentleman. The calmness of his reply is also a testament to his strong alliance with reason, further characterizing Ralph as person who values thought and logic.
When Ralph is actually on the path, he “realized with surprise that he did not really expect to meet any beast and didn’t know what he would do about it if he did.” This realization underscores Ralph’s ability to remain calm and realistic in stressful situations. During the showdown with Jack during the morning’s assembly, his clearheaded response helped him maintain his authority; the boys found his hope for rescue during this height of fear more appealing than Jack’s desire to hunt. Jack self-indulgently seeks the glory of the hunt while Ralph seeks safety for the group, a fact not lost on the other boys at the time.
Inevitably, once Ralph has accepted the obligation that comes with leadership and has made his way alone toward the castle rock, Jack follows. “Couldn’t let you do it on your own,” he explains, motivated less by concern than by an inability to allow Ralph his full share of glory as a solo explorer. Immediately, Jack claims the area as ideal for a fort and identifies a loose boulder as a weapon. The other boys warm up to Jack’s plan right away and prefer to remain there playing fort and feeling secure rather than follow Ralph’s command that they all make the journey to the fire site to re-light the fire.
