A society is defined as a group of people uniting in a common interest. Even though some people do not always seem to have parallel perspectives, they do share one common interest, which is survival. The survival of man is dependent on man's ability to adapt to their needs and surroundings. This concept is known as evolution. The society of man has evolved in its journey through time to help ensure man's survival.

According to Thomas Hobbes' Leviathan, it is in the nature of men to thirst for power, or the ability to control. Hobbes writes, "...a general inclination of all mankind, a perpetual and relentless desire of power after power, that ceases only in death." (p.330) He believes that the thirst for power is insatiable, and will only stop after death. The thirst for power is insatiable because "he cannot assure the power and means to live well...without the acquisition of more." (p.330) Man can only guarantee his own survival by acquiring more power. Hobbes believes that man's struggle for power begins in a setting that he describes as "state of nature".

The state of nature is the name for a society that has no government, no rules, and everyone is granted equal power

In creating leaders, the boys on the island are engaging in a idea that Hobbes calls a "social contract". A social contract is a situation where groups of man appoint a leader, but does not limit their power. Ralph and Jack were both sovereigns of their groups. The difference between the two boys was that Jack aggressively driven by his human nature, while Ralph was more passive. The acquiring of power and self-preservation naturally motivated Jack. When presented with the idea that a beast existed, Jack used to boys' fear of the beast to gain more power by telling them what they wanted to hear. Jack provided them with comfort in that he relieved them of their fear of the beast by telling them they would hunt and kill the beast. In return for their survival, the boys who joined Jack's group surrendered to him their power. By acquiring this power, Jack's chances of self-preservation were improved dramatically.

Another issue that might raise some questions about Hobbes' society is, what happens to a person who does have a religion. Rather than only the fear of death, they also fear external punishment from their God. A person who feared God more than the sovereign would likely not surrender their power to the sovereign. If this were true, Jack would not have been able to assemble his army of boys on the island and R

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Approximate Word count = 900
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)