What is a leader? In times of crisis, the ultimate survival of a group depends on the leader, or the person who steps forward to take control, direct others, and maintain order. Even though people in today's society are judged based on their appearance, appearance has no bearing on whether or not a person is a successful leader. Instead, good leadership is based on the individual skills and characteristics that the person possesses. The characters Ralph, Jack, Simon, and Piggy in William Golding's Lord of the Flies are perfect examples of people who may not be the most physically beautiful, but who nevertheless have the superior qualities to be an excellent leader. Ralph is without a doubt the most well-rounded leader on the entire island. Show courage and confidence, both key characteristics of a great leader. An excellent example of Ralph's courage appears when the boys venture out to find the beast in unknown parts of the island. "His mouth was tight and pale. He put his hair back very slowly... He forced his feet to move until they carried him to the back of his neck" (Golding 130). Ralph instinctively knows that, as a leader, he must physically take charge of the search party, despite his feelings of fear. Another small situation where Ralph shows courage is when he comes between 2 people arguing and takes control of the situation. “Ralph pushed between them and received a blow to the chest.” (Golding 90). In addition to courage, Ralph also displays confidence in his leadership role. Throughout the novel, Ralph constantly says what must be done with confidence. In chapter 2, Ralph lays out the rules and what you need to do to survive. “If we have a signal, they will come… And one more thing. We... middle of paper... A leader in Lord of the Flies is responsible for the well-being of the boys. To ensure everyone's well-being while on the island, the leader must be able to make good decisions, listen to each member of the group, and keep a clear mind despite the uncivilized environment. Ralph, Jack, Simon and Piggy are the ones who are on the island and who are capable of doing everything. Qualities are essential for a good leader as without them what little civilization remains would be abolished. Each member displays their leadership qualities in various ways, but none of the boys understand all the qualities required to have a flawless civilization. Considering their age, it is remarkable how well developed their skills and understanding of leadership are.