| Woodenheads Essay, Research Paper
In The March of Folly, historian Barbara Tuchman expresses how she feels that wooden-headedness, the source of self-deception, holds a large role in political affairs. Wooden-headedness consists of assessing a situation in terms of preconceived fixed notions while ignoring or rejecting contrary signs. This statement is a good one, it can be argued that wooden-headedness is present in not only political matters, but in all human affairs. The writer agree with this, from reading the book Lord of the Flies the author shows wooden-headedness not just being limited to government, but also being present in human actions and decisions.
The start of Lord of the Flies explains wooden-headedness as shown in Ralph’s actions. Even after the plane crash and the realization of all the adults’ deaths and he is still okay with the situation. Ralph is happy with the idea of being left on his own island. Piggy is the one telling him the facts and all Ralph does is respond with the statement “Sucks to your?” Jack also shows his wooden-headedness when he tells the boys in the chorus group to line up and stays in order. Jack does not realize that the plane they were in has crashed and there is no reason for the kids to waste their time lining up.
At the feast hosted by the hunters, Ralph participates in the attack of what everyone thinks is the beast. Ralph shows how wooden headed he is by participating in the event of the attack. The reason this might be construed as wooden headed is because Ralph knows that there is no beast and gets himself caught up in the moment and ignores all the facts to join with everyone else.
Toward the end of the novel Jack had forgotten completely about the existence of an outside world and is running around like a lunatic. He ignores both Ralph and Piggy’s complaints about how things he is doing it wrong. Inside Jack must know that what he is doing is wrong, but his wooden-headedness prevails. The twins, Samneric warn Ralph of Jack’s plans to hunt him, but they also tell Jack, Ralph’s position in the woods. This shows their wooden-headedness because they know that Jack will kill Ralph and it is wrong for them to turn someone into receive that fate.
Wooden-headedness is show in human actions and decisions very well in the book Lord of the Flies. Throughout the story many different characters show their wooden-headedness through bad decisions they make. This is just one prime example of how wooden-headedness is present and the more books one reads the more examples can be uncovered.
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