Dionysian and Apollonian perspectives are literary devices, their names deriving from the Greek gods whose qualities they represent. Apollo and Dionysus were both sons of Zeus, and thus might be considered equals in terms of hierarchy in the Greek pantheon. Apollo is interpreted to represent order and reason, whereas Dionysus represents chaos and emotionalism: two sides of human nature, neither in conflict with each other nor truly harmonious.
Thus, the Apollonian perspectives are all those...
Dionysian and Apollonian perspectives are literary devices, their names deriving from the Greek gods whose qualities they represent. Apollo and Dionysus were both sons of Zeus, and thus might be considered equals in terms of hierarchy in the Greek pantheon. Apollo is interpreted to represent order and reason, whereas Dionysus represents chaos and emotionalism: two sides of human nature, neither in conflict with each other nor truly harmonious.
Thus, the Apollonian perspectives are all those qualities in Lord of the Flies which relate to "law and order"--for example, the assemblies, the conch, Ralph's democratic election, and the idea of the fire as a tool to return to civilization. In contrast, Dionysian perspectives are largely embodied by Jack and his ideals, which are particularly illuminated on two occasions. First, when Jack attempts to unseat Ralph as chief, but finds no support, he runs away crying, saying that he won't "play" with the others anymore. Second, when Jack forms his own rudimentary tribe, in his first meeting he establishes one of the guiding principles of the group as being "having fun." Clearly among Jack's priorities are emotional fulfillment, even and and almost especially at the expense of abstract reasoning, which is the essence of a Dionysian quality.
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