What makes Jack want to punish Wilfred?

Answer 1

As we are never informed what Wildred's suposed 'crime' was it is impossible to be certain what Jack's reasons were. However punished Wilfred was cerrtainly a display of Jack's power. He left Wilfred tied up for several hours before beating him, which would also have served as a example to the rest of the boys. Although Robert had no idea what Wilfred had supposedly done to earn him a punishment apparently nobody challenged Jack's orders, decision or right to inflict a punishment. If anything Robert and the rest of the boys seemed to have thought it was funny, which showed a readiness to acceptance physical violence inflicted by another boy. The punishment was a highly visible display of power and paved the way for further punishments and excesses if and when Jack saw fit to impose them.