Metzger 1

Anna Metzger
Mr. Plinske
English II
7 November 2016
Climbing the Pyramid
Around 800 people attempt to climb Mt. Everest annually. The amount of motivation and
determination it takes to achieve this is daunting and requires years of training. These motivated
individuals share several characteristics with the character Jack Merridew in William Goldings
Lord of the Flies. Throughout the novel, Jack climbs Maslows Hierarchy of Needs pyramid in a
rapid amount of time and causes a large amount of destruction not only to the island the
characters are stranded on but also to his relationships with the other characters. Jack was able to
achieve Maslows level of esteem needs as shown through his ability to attain and secure his
safety, belongingness, and esteem needs.
As Jack completes the physiological needs of Maslows pyramid early in the book, he
moves directly on to the level of safety. One example of this is the boys attempt and success at
building shelters. Maslow claims a person requires a safe living environment, and adequate
shelter to complete the second level of his pyramid (D117 English Department). After being on
the island for around a month, two shelters were in position, but shaky (Golding 50). Though
building the shelters was not Jacks idea, having the shelters built was a prime example of Jacks
achievement of Maslows second level of the pyramid. Later in the novel, Jack establishes a
fortress at Castle Rock, only further proving he has shelter and is not in immediate danger on the
island. Another example of Jacks completion of Maslows safety needs is his consistency of
good health throughout his time on the island. In order to complete these needs, one must have
good health (D117 English Department). Jack never loses his health to a point of no recovery

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by either getting deathly sick or mortally injured. Besides for an injury made by a boar, he stays
in top shape, as it is required of him to continue to hunt in the extreme manner he does on the
island. Even with the boar wound, it does not affect Jacks ability to hunt or live in any way. This
shows that Jack has obtained the second level of Maslows pyramid through his continuing
excellent health. Lastly, Jack shows his achievement of Maslows safety needs through his
security of Castle Rock while he is supreme leader for his tribe. When Ralph, Piggy, and
Samneric come to help Piggy confront Jack over the loss of his glasses, Jack has Roger standing
guard, yelling Halt! Who goes there? at anybody who approached (Golding 174). Jacks use of
Roger for protection only further proves he had achieved the level of safety, as he not only was
secure in the fortress, but had a personal guard standing watch to make sure no harm got in his
way.
The third level of Maslows pyramid, belongingness, was gained by Jack throughout
many trials and errors. An example of Jacks achievement of belongingness on the island is
shown when he is chosen to explore the island upon arrival with Ralph and Simon. After an
initial assembly with all of the boys on the island, Ralph, Jack, and Simon are decided upon to go
explore. Jack falls into a comfort with the other boys, and they begin to create almost a sense of
friendship. While walking off to explore the island, [the boys] turned to each other, laughing
excitedly, [and] talking (Golding 25). This quote proves that Jack found immediate acceptance
with other boys on the island and created a sense of belonging among them. This ability to find
belonging after only being on the island a few hours is a clear indication that Jacks reached
Maslows level of belonginess. Another example of Jack surpassing the third level of Maslows
pyramid was shown through his creation and involvement with a group of hunters he identifies

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with. After Ralph gives Jack control over the hunters, he creates a sense community with them.
They spend the majority of time together resulting in Jacks feelings of acceptance within it. This
proves the achievement of Maslows third level of the pyramid because in order to reach the
level of belongingness, the need to belong to a group and fit in is a driving force (D117
English Department). This quote shows Jacks community and acceptance he feels with the
hunters proves he has achieved Maslows third level of the pyramid. One last example to
demonstrate Jacks achievement of belongingness is given when Jack gains complete trust and
control over the majority of the boys on the island. He establishes a system in which he is their
leader, showing he completed fits in with their society. After Jack establishes his fellowship of
boys, , they have a true sense of belongingness with one another. When Ralph and Piggy come
upon Jacks new tribe the tribe was grouped on the turf laughing, singing, lying, squatting, or
standing on the grass (Golding 148). This creation of a tribe/society confirms Jack has reached
Maslows level of belonging through the other boys affection, acceptance, and belonging
(D117 English Department). He has gained a complete sense of community and trust with many
of the other boys on the island, finalizing his achievement of Maslows love and belonging
needs.
Jack gains Maslows fourth level within his Hierarchy of Needs, esteem, through the
power he gains throughout his time on the island. One example of Jack reaching Maslows level
of esteem is shown when Jack first gains control over the choir. After Ralph is elected chief of
the other boys, he decides the choir belongs to [Jack] of course (Golding). Jack is given
complete power over the choir giving him a heightened sense of esteem. This proves Jack
achieves Maslows fourth level through his recognition by the others and the responsibility he is

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given over them (D117 English Department). Another example of Jack achieves the fourth level
is shown when his elated sense of esteem reaches a point that he decides to create his own tribe,
with him as leader. Jack declares that he is going off by [himself]... Anyone who wants to hunt
when [he does] can come too (Golding 127). This quote was the first instance in which Jack
decided to separate himself from Ralphs society to create his own tribe. This proves Jack
reached Maslows level of esteem through his need for a high level of stable and firmly based
self-respect from others (D117 English Department). Jacks rejection of Ralph and attempted
establishment of his own tribe proves he has met this need for respect from others. One last
example of Jacks achievement of this level is proven when he becomes ultimate chief of his
tribe. After he leaves Ralphs tribe, the majority of the boys follow him and join in on Jacks
tribe. Jack become the leader with power lay[ing] in the brown swell of his forearms: authority
sat on his shoulder and chattered in his ear like an ape (Golding 150). Jacks attainment of
power proves his reaching of level four through the status he gains from the respect of the boys
serving him.
In conclusion, Jack Merridew used his wits and power hungry ambition to quickly climb
Maslows Hierarchy of Needs. He was able to achieve Maslows level of esteem needs as shown
through his ability to satisfy his safety needs by hunting and establishing a fort, belongingness
and love needs by establishing a group of fellow hunting obsessed boys, and his esteem needs
through becoming the chief of the characters tribe. Jack used his time on the island
meticulously, and put as much determination into climbing Maslows pyramid, as those 800
people that have put in their utmost effort to climb Mt. Everest this year.

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Works Cited

D117 English Department. "A Brief Discussion Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs." (n.d.)
Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. New York: Penguin, 2016. Print.