Throughout Lord of the Flies, written by William Golding, Ralph struggles with extreme conflicts and comes to terms with a society that is like no other that he has been exposed to. After spending 12 years in civilization in England, he is forced to live in a society unlike one that he is used to. On the island, Ralph learns the bitter truth about people and what lies in them-their selfishness and thirst for power, their ability to possess hate and the fact that without society, we become nothing more than ruthless savages.
             Human society needs order and the easiest way to establish this is to create a government. The government can make rules and try to shape the culture to how they want it to appear, but unless the members of that culture abide by the set rules, the government will never work. Ralph learns this very important lesson when he is trying to establish rules for their society on the island. As Jack and Ralph are creating their civilization, they say, "We'll have rules! ...lots of rules! Then anyone who breaks em-" (33). Ralph feels that as a leader, he should institute a set of laws, things that will be done on the island. He thinks that because he is the leader, then everyone will abide by what he says. As their civilization starts to fall apart, Ralph realizes the importance of a real society-a government, rules, and individuals who will be there to enforce those regulations. Ralph knows that their past society has left a huge impact on their lives. "Here, invisible yet strong, was the taboo of the old life. Round the squatting child was the protection of parents and school and policemen and the law. Roger's arm was conditioned by a civilization that knew nothing of him and was in ruins" (62). (One who lives in a certain culture will conform to the standards of that culture.) Ralph comes to terms with the fact that as 12 year old boys, they do not have the mental or physical ability to m...