1. Sense of Responsibility: Ralph displays a strong sense of responsibility as the elected leader. He understands the importance of leading by example and believes that following rules sets the right tone for the group.
2. Protection of the Group: Ralph sees rules as a means to protect the group from chaos, violence, and disintegration. He believes that without structure and guidelines, individual desires and conflicts could tear the group apart.
3. Fairness and Equality: Ralph's pursuit of rules is rooted in his belief in fairness and equality among the group members. He aims to ensure that decisions are made collectively and that the opinions and needs of all boys are considered.
4. Long Term Vision: Ralph possesses foresight and recognizes that the group must adopt long-term strategies for survival. Adhering to rules is essential for organizing essential task such as food gathering, shelter building, and signal fire maintenance.
5. Counterbalance to Savagery: Ralph views rules as a bulwark against the primal, savage tendencies that lurk within human nature as represented by characters such as Jack Merridew. He believes that rules are a way to tame and channel human desire to prevent the descent into chaos and violence.
6. Maintaining Democratic Principles: Ralph's adherence to rules reflects his commitment to democratic principles. He believes in the importance of group consensus decision making and seeks to avoid authoritarian or tyrannical leadership.
7. Respect for Order and Authority: Ralph has a natural inclination towards structure and order, which is reflected in his insistence on rules. He believes in the importance of legitimate authority and seeks to earn the trust and respect of the group by demonstrating fairness, wisdom, and courage.
Rules represent a beacon of hope for Ralph, a foundation upon which he aims to build a society guided by reason, cooperation, and humanity. His emphasis on rules exemplifies the tension between civilization and savagery that underscores he heart of the novel.