Ralph and Jack are at odds over their mutual
desire to lead the boys on the island. Ralph becomes the default leader
through his possession of the conch. Jack, as the leader of the choir, thinks he should
be in charge of everyone. Ralph tries to diffuse the situation by making Jack's choir
the hunters, which works for awhile. Jack is happy being in power and providing the rest
with food. However, this blows up when Ralph, Simon, and Piggy are the only ones
building shelters. They almost physically fight, but both manage to pull it back
together.
It essentially becomes a fight over
responsibilities, & it threatens the very shaky truce established after Ralph
was voted leader. It is the first time Jack and Ralph have voiced their dissatisfaction
with one another, and it sets the tone for the rest of the novel. So this is the first
wedge driven into their friendship, & their mutual respect quickly becomes
mutual distrust and hatred. The true source of the conflict is Jack's
inability to let anyone else have power. Ralph truly wants what's best in
terms of survival, although he doesn't always behave according to those thoughts. Jack
loves power, and only seeks to have more and more.
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