Category: Lord of The Flies

The Lord of the Flies is a fiction novel by William Golding which takes place during a chaotic war. A group of schoolboys crash land on a deserted island and develop a faulty hierarchy in the strive to survive. The characters, including leader Ralph, antagonist Jack, the kind Piggy, and innocent Simon go through varying journeys of the human spirit in which they contend with and ultimately fall prey to the effects of chaos and violence. The book shows us what an environment of savagery and survival instincts does to the character, and how we all have the ability to exceed the boundaries of both righteousness and destructiveness. Ultimately, we conclude that the latent human character is neutral and that a persons behavior is a reaction to the environment she or he is surrounded by. Though William Golding does not profess the idea that man is born evil, the concept of mans innate potential for evil is central to the novel.

From The Lord of the Flies, we can devise Goldings belief that man is born neutral. The idea is that we are born with both the capacity of good and the capacity of evil and that the way we are raised, or the environment in which we live determines how we act. This shows the power of outside sources and the pliability of our own character. Literature constantly explores the potential in man to commit the greatest evils and the greatest good. Lord of the Flies puts this discourse in an even more riveting context by testing the characters of a group of proper English children who carry the stereotype and literary reputation

Through the devolving of his characters, Golding shows that the capacity for evil lies in all beings and appears when nurtured by the environment. Ralph, Jack, Simon, and all the boys on the island come from a proper English background. They were raised in a world of boundaries, customs, and propriety. As the story continues and the environment becomes more and more brutal, the change in the boys becomes evident. Golding uses antagonist Jack to symbolize this transition from structured human behavior to the more instinctual savagery that the majority of the boys end up exhibiting. At one point, Golding describes the frenzy of killing a sow through the perspective of Jack: His mind was crowded with memories; memories of the knowledge that had come to them when they closed in on the struggling pig, the knowledge that they had outwitted a living thing, imposed their will upon it, taken away its life like a long satisfying drink (Golding 92). In contrast to the other boys, Jack has become violent, enraged with bloodlust, and savage. The others in the group chide him for letting the rescue fire go out,  You and your blood, Jack Merridew! You and your hunting! We might have gone home& (Golding 93). This shows the contrast between environments. Even though they are all living in the same conditions, Jack is the first and most severe to fall into chaos because he is put in charge of hunting and becomes immersed in the act. Simon, a symbol of purity and humanity despite the barbaric conditions, witnesses the vision of the Lord of the Flies when finding the sows head on a stake. Simon sees that There was blackness within, a blackness that spread (Golding 201). Simon, the purest of the group, is the only one to fully understand the hold that this evil had on the boys. This scene depicts Goldings ultimate judgment of mankind: that the potential for evil lies within us all, just as does the potential for good and that the environment affects us and determines the development of our personality.

Lord of the Flies takes us on the often harrowing exploration of the nature of the human soul. Like much of literature, Goldings work shows the true condition of man, that we can not avoid the capacity for evil, but that we can also all embrace our ability to do good. Lord of the Flies is integral to our literary understanding of the fight between good and evil. From this story, we can reflect on our own capacity and how our environment affects both the behaviors we act on now, and those we will act on in the future.

Works Cited

Golding, William. Lord of the Flies (1959). Faber and Faber Ltd: London.

What does symbolism add to the literature? Symbolism is a literary device used to express something in an indirect way. William Golding’s Lord of the Flies is an example of literature that uses symbolism frequently. Lord of the Flies narrates the story of a group of boys that are stranded on an island, and what happens to them during the time spent there. Throughout the novel, Golding uses symbolism through his characters as a way to express notions in an indirect way. In William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, different abstract ideas are presented through the symbolic characters of Ralph, Jack, and Simon.

The novel’s protagonist, Ralph, is utilized to symbolize the human qualities of civilization. First off, once arriving on the island, Ralph establishes rules for speaking. As all the boys are gathered together; talking over each other, Ralph mentions, “ We can’t have everybody talking at once. We’ll have to have ‘Hands up’ like at school”. Ralph’s establishment of rules, when it comes to speaking, introduces his commitment to maintaining civilization on the island. Later on, Ralph complains about the lack of shelters being built. As Jack returns from the forest, he meets with Ralph who is upset with the other boys, expressing, “‘All day I’ve been working with Simon. No one else. They’re off bathing or eating or playing’. Although Ralph is upset with the lack of help, his determination to build the shelters further expresses his desire for civilization. Finally, Ralph is consistently vocal about the importance of maintaining a fire. While the boys are gathered together at a meeting, Ralph frantically explains, “‘The fire is the most important thing on the island’. Ralph holds the fire at high importance, which keeps him tied to civilization when the rest of the boys begin to stray into savagery. In conclusion, the human quality of civility is expressed through the symbolic character Ralph.

The novel’s antagonist, Jack, is utilized to symbolize the human trait of savagery. First off, Jack has a growing obsession with hunting a pig. While Jack and Ralph are conversating, Ralph mentions the importance of being recused and Jack, “had to think for a moment before he could remember what rescue was” before expressing, “‘Rescue? Yes, of course! All the same, I’d like to catch a pig first-’. Jack’s growing obsession with hunting a pig clouds his judgment and begins to stray him farther from civilization, and closer to savagery. Secondly, Jack masks himself by using face paint while hunting. As the hunters are preparing to hunt, Jack covers his face in clay and as he looks at his reflection, “He looked in astonishment, no longer himself, but an awesome stranger”. Jack’s use of face paint removes him from his personal identity and emotions, allowing him to become the savage needed to hunt. Finally, as Jack and his tribe are seeking out Ralph, Jack decides to burn down the island. “They had smoked him out and set the island on fire” concludes Ralph, as he questions the smoke forming as he flees from the boys. Jack’s rash decision to set fire to the island indicates his full submission into savagery. In conclusion, Jack is a symbolic character that is used to present the human quality of savagery.

The novel’s character, Simon, is utilized to symbolize the human trait of natural goodness. To begin with, Simon has a deep connection and appreciation for nature. While the other boys assumed Simon fell asleep, he had really gone on his own into the forest where he “squatted down the leaves and looked out into the clearing”, admiring the beauty of nature. Simon’s appreciation for nature exudes his natural goodness, as his actions are completely different from the other boys. Secondly, Simon’s treatment of the littluns of the group reflects natural goodness. As Simon is wandering the island, a group of littluns follows him towards the fruit trees, from there he “found for them the fruit they could not reach . . . and passed them back down to the endless, outstretched hands”. Simon’s treatment towards the littluns contrasts with the other boys, he is kind and patient which reflects his natural goodness. Finally, Simon is the only one that recognizes that the ‘beast’ is within the boys. As the boys are discussing the ‘beast’ rumour is true, Simon confesses, “‘Maybe there is a beast’. ‘What I mean is…maybe it’s only us’. While fear and savagery cloud the rest of the boy’s judgments, Simon’s natural goodness allows him to recognize the darkness within the group. In short, Simon’s characterization is utilized to symbolize the human trait of natural goodness.

In William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, different abstract ideas are presented through the symbolic characters of Ralph, Jack, and Simon. The human qualities of civilization, savagery, and natural goodness are symbolized through Golding’s writing, which gives a different perspective on these abstract concepts. However, through this symbolism, Golding carries a greater implication. Golding seeks to express, through these symbolic characters, that some human qualities are easier to possess than others. Therefore, Lord of the Flies presents the question, is it easier to abandon your morals or maintain them?

The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it. Everyday we have opportunities to stand up and change things for the better and many of us choose to sit by and do nothing. In William Golding’s novel, Lord of the Flies, he uses characterization, symbolism, and theme to prove that man is essentially evil.

William Golding proves that man is evil through characterization. ¨We ought to die before we let the fire out.¨ (Golding 81). This indicates that man is evil, Ralph worries that if the fire goes out then the boys will lose their chance to be rescued, but as their time on the island progresses the boys descent into savagery. Jack’s tribe does not worry about the fire because they don’t care if they get rescued. This clearly indicates the evilness of the island. The boys on the island are trapped on the island. The boys are in a war and the plane gets shot down. The boys are stuck on the island from the time the plane crashes to the time the boys get rescued. The boys’ descent into savagery is not quick; they gradually get worse as their time on the island Proggreses. ‘There was a shout from beyond the thicket, then Ralph was running with the swiftness of fear through the undergrowth. He came to a pig-run, followed it perhaps for a hundred yards, and then swerved off…. Ralph thought of the boar that had broken through them with such ease’ (Kennard). This shows the essentiall evilness of man. The shout from the thicket was from Jack’s tribe. Ralph told Jack that he had one thing to do which was to keep the signal fire going, Jack ended up failing to look after it and now Ralph is mad. Ralph keeps making a point that he let the fire go out. This proves the evilness of Jack. He got mad at Ralph for throwing him under the bus about letting the fire go out. Jack also wants all the power even though he doesn’t have the power. The boys agreed that Ralph was going to be the leader. Golding’s characterization proves that man is evil because the boys are stranded on an island with no grownups with them. The boys have set up rules to follow. After a while the boys are too busy trying to hunt. The only thing all the minds of Jack and his tribe are the desire to kill.

William Golding indicates man is evil through symbolism. “The rock struck Piggy a glancing blow from chin to knee; the conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist.” (p 181) This indicates the image of civilization and its ending within the novel. The conch represents a civilized society and once it breaks the boys appear to become savage and therefore the thoughts of civilization are destroyed together with the shell. This shows the savagery on the island, it ties in with everything. In chapter 6 Jack says “we don’t need the conch anymore.” That proves Jack might have been planning this all along. Jack has been mean to piggy since they first met. ‘He was intimidated by this uniformed leadership and the offhand authority in Merridew’s voice. He shrank to the other side of Ralph and busied himself with his glasses’” (p. 32). The evilness of Jack shows the descent into the wrong path. Piggy shrank to the other side of Ralph and busied himself with his glasses. In chapter 4 iggy complaints about the hunters’ immaturity Jack slaps him and breaks one of his lenses. This clearly justifies the evilness on the island. It seems like everytime Piggy tries to speak up for himself Jack always means to make Piggy feel bad, but yet he is nice to everybody else. Piggy did not do anything to him. The symbolism of the conch depicts that when there are no rules evilness always seems to be lurking around the corner.

Finally, William Golding proves man is evil through theme. ‘Semicircle of little boys, their bodies streaked with coloured clay, sharp sticks in their hands’ (Tiger) This shows the evilness of the boys on the island because the boys have not been in the civilized world in so longThey have been on the island for all this time and they have no grownups to listen to so they don’t know what is right and what is wrong. They seem to follow the actions of each other. The only person they seem to be following is Jack, This results in the descent into savegery and they become more and more evil. This shows the evilness of the boys on the island because the boys have their bodies clayed and they have sharp sticks. Before, the boys would not do that because they would still be in the civilized world obeying the rules of life. ‘We’re English; and the English are best at everything; declares Jack’ (Tiger) Jack says this but yet he is the one who starts the descent into savagery. This is super ironic because even though Jack says that he is the one who starts the descent into savagery and that is the reason everybody else becomes savage. They go as far as killing the pig and Simon. This is super ironic because even though Jack says that he is the one who starts the descent into savagery and that is the reason everybody else becomes savage.

The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it. Everyday we have opportunities to stand up and change things for the better and many of us choose to sit by and do nothing. Think about that next time you are in the position to stand up and do something good.

Lord of the flies was authored by William Golding in 1953. Ten years later, a film version was made by Peter Brook. The book and film are about a group of British school boys who become stranded on an island and attempt to manage themselves, only ending in catastrophe. Through the novel and movie, several techniques were explored to convey the theme of civilisation vs. savagery. Three of these are symbolism, characterisation and setting, along with the use of film techniques compared to Golding’s writing style.

Symbolism plays a key role in the book and movie to explore the theme of civilisation vs. savagery. The main items that were significant was the conch, fire and Piggy’s glasses. The conch symbolised law and order. Ralph says ‘we can use this to call the others. Have a meeting. They’ll come when they hear us.’ (p.12) This scene demonstrated the order, as all the boys listened and obeyed. ‘He can hold it when he’s speaking’ (p.31). Here, the conch was used to display a democratic, civilised society, keen to work things out. When the conch ‘exploded into a thousand white fragments’ (p.200) it represented that all civilisation was lost, resulting in anarchy and savagery. The conch exploding wasn’t shown in the film resulting in less effectiveness as it did not clearly convey the theme of civilisation vs. savagery. The fire was an icon of hope, to get rescued early in the story, but towards the end was a tool for destruction. At the beginning, the boys were keen to get rescued- ‘we must make a fire’ (p.37). They let the fire go out showing their change in desire and acceptance of being savage. The fire was not shown as much either in the film, just smoke, in contrast to the book where it was vividly described and given much importance. Brook might have done this to show the fire’s importance decrease to the boys, thus showing the fire less to show its descent. Piggy’s glasses represented intelligence and hope. Glasses and the fire go hand in hand. Jack says ‘his specs- use them as burning glasses’ (p.40). Although these glasses allowed the boys to live, through the creation of fire, ironically, it was the failure to foresee as Piggy dies. The theme was portrayed using symbolism by the author and director.

The theme was also developed by the use of characterisation. Ralph was charismatic and a natural leader. He had a democratic viewpoint and a priority to be rescued, living for the benefit of his people. ‘You said you’d keep the fire going and you let it out!’ (p.74). Ralph was very stern as to keeping the fire going, to give all chances of getting rescued. Jack was a power-hungry, violent individual with a dictatorial view. From the beginning when Ralph asks what he wants the choir-boys to be Jack says ‘hunters’ (p.19) revealing his inner savagery. Piggy is intelligent and his way of speaking depicted his working-class background. His voice was unheard most of the time. Simon is a quiet boy and is the only one that knows the beast isn’t real- ‘maybe it’s only us’ (p.96). Ralph displays civilisation, even when Jack goes rogue, Ralph is still part of the ‘good’ side. Jack portrays the savage. When Jack’s tribe wears face-paint it distinguishes between the good and evil in a physical manner. All the boys on the island are British. When the naval officer arrives at the end, he says ‘I should have thought that a pack of British boys…would have been able to put up a better show’ (p.224). Ironically, British were meant to be of the highest class and shouldn’t be acting this way. The film doesn’t depict the scene of the officer talking, hence not showing the irony. The film does well though to show Jack’s wickedness through his mannerisms more than the book. Close up shots capture his facial expressions, music and sound effects create a dramatic mood. The theme of civilisation vs. savagery is explored by characterisation through physical aspects and the types of personalities.

The third technique demonstrating the theme of civilisation vs. savagery is the setting. Like the garden of Eden, it started tranquil (p.4) but soon declined into a pit of chaos. The situation the boys are in is ironic, as they are living in a microcosm of the outside world. At the time of which the book was written, World War II was on. When Ralph says ‘he’s a commander in the navy. When he gets leave, he’ll come and rescue us’ (p.8). This proves that it is war time- even in the book. Passages in the book vividly describe the surroundings of which the boys lived in, allowing the readers imagination to illustrate. The look of the island is more obvious in the film as scenery is shown through the use of longshots. The book described it as a more luscious, greener area and on a grander scale. On the contrary, in the film, castle rock was a dry, dark area creating a more savage sense to it. Ralph’s area-near the beach- had a more civilised approach. Brook was able to portray the theme better; through the use of colours and the moods it creates. The setting displays the theme of civilisation vs. savagery in both the film and book.

Both Golding’s writing style and film techniques are used to illustrate the theme of civilisation vs. savagery. Golding used vivid description to express the emotions felt by the boys. Camera angle was used in the film, such as close up shots to show emotion and grasp what they were feeling and longshots to display the vast scenery. Non-diegetic music and sound effects were used to express the dramatic circumstances in an effective way. Moreover, Golding uses allusions and irony to allow the reader to understand the plot in a more detailed way. Dialogue is used in the book to apprehend the character traits and personality, demonstrated similarly in the film.

Symbolism of items, characterisation of main characters and the setting of the island along with film techniques and writing style were used by both William Golding and Peter Brook to show the theme of civilisation vs. savagery. Golding has used the techniques in a more powerful way than Peter Brook, by using immense description rather than short glimpses in the film. The film captures major events that happened in the book but wasn’t able to express the significance of the events and items in a meaningful way. Lord of the Flies, both novel and film, demonstrate the ability of humans to descend from a civilised demeanour to a savage nature.

This essay will explan the metaphors in the novel the Lord of the Flies and how every detail was used to represent us as a society.

The beast

The beast is shown multiple times during dark moments. They believe that there is a beast out to get them. This is a common theme but Golding was very smart in implementing the beast. They were very focused on finding it but little did they know that the beast is inside of them. The beast wasn’t going to kill anyone they would kill each other. This also shows the children’s imagination as seen with the dead parachutist they used there childish imagination to turn it into a monster the same as children see monsters in the closet mistaking it for clothes. Another main thing is near the end it says “Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill!… You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you? Close, close, close! I’m the reason why it’s no go? Why things are what they are?” and also “Maybe there is a beast… Maybe it’s only us.” all these ties into a very clear indication of the metaphor of the beast being evil inside. ‘

Piggies glasses

Piggy’s glasses are a symbol of perception, piggy is described as reasonable and logical. piggy being the smart one displays how the glasses are symbolic of a society that values knowledge. However, as the boys lose their sanity the shattering of Piggy’s glasses signifies the loss of civilisation and reasoning. Threw out each time they get more violent the glasses break to show its getting worst until there shattered to predict the death of piggy. So Goulding used suttle events that forecast the future or represent something in the present.

The fire

Fire is a confusing image in Lord of the Flies. Like the glasses that make it, fire speaks to innovation. However, like the nuclear bombs obliterating the world around the young men’s island, fire is an innovation that compromises pulverization on the off chance that it gains out of control. Fire likewise symbolizes the young men’s association with human development: their sign flame gives them any expectation of salvage.

Overall Goulding applied small details into metaphors such as the fire, glasses and the beast and used in clever ways to build a story with meaning. In all of these, you learn that civilisation can crumble easily and in the right circumstances anyone can kill. But I want to leave you on a quote “His mind was crowded with memories; memories of the knowledge that had come to them when they closed in on the struggling pig, knowledge that they had outwitted a living thing, imposed their will upon it, taken away its life like a long satisfying drink.”

In life jurisdiction keeps us in check and morally aware of our actions, it forces us to consciously think of right and wrong. Often our parents enforce these guidelines when young to ensure a stable and secure upbringing, but William Golding’s expansive commentary in Lord of the Flies is an example of what can happen when these guidelines aren’t enforced. The boys on the island bring different levels of emotional intensity to the situation and throughout the novel we see their different archetypes clash as they spiral further into chaos. The boys become acquainted with the idea of being isolated without authority and the absence of rules leads to their lack of integrity, and in turn misguided actions. As we get to know the characters better and the boys get situated, the evil that they enforce on each other outweighs their virtues. Mankind is made up of vice and virtue, and it is difficult to keep our primitive instincts at bay when left to our own devices.

It’s difficult to restrain ourselves and act appropriately without the presence of authority figures, most of us have never been allowed to completely be released of any societal expectations. So how do we know how we would act if these barriers were taken away? When growing up, you’re more likely to make mistakes because of your learning. If the learning and maturing process are completely removed then anarchy is a likely outcome. However, although it’s difficult to act with virtue when all reasoning is removed, it’s not impossible. Simon is the only boy on the island that maintains a moral high ground and clear conscious from the time they find themselves stranded to the point of his untimely death. Out of so many boys, the fact that only one does not resort to a savage state directly points to how difficult it is to keep ourselves in check when not given a reason to. The reasoning as to why Simon stays consistent is because he represents goodness and is a presence of morality and virtue during dark times, he fits into a christ figure or holy archetype, and could even be perceived as mirroring Jesus. “Simon found for them the fruit they could not reach” (Golding 56). Simon’s compassion towards the little uns could be compared to Jesus’s aid to the hungry. The comparison between Simon and Jesus could be concluded as an allusion due to Golding’s many indirect comparisons between the two. Simon stands out and is the reason why it is difficult, not impossible to keep our primitive instincts in check. Even towards the timing of his death, Simon remains civil, when talking to the Pigs head. It revealed things about Simon that he wasn’t even aware of. “You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you?” (Golding 143). When Simon realized that the “beast” which lead to so many of the boys’ vices, was within them all he was punished and ridiculed for speaking the truth. Unfortunately, the other boys on the island failed to remain civilized and aware of their heinous actions, Simons’s role in bringing a level of awareness and stability was overshot by the darkness that in the end, overcame the island.

All of the boys partake in actions that lead them further from humanity and the longer they are without the necessary authority the more drastic their actions become. The boys who started to hunt the pig at the beginning were the first ones to spiral. They felt the need to hunt because they were left to their own devices and Jack, in particular, wanted to prove to the group as to why he should be the leader. Being the leader of the choir was a role that he took pride in and one that he felt enforced his importance. Being stripped from that title was the first step in straying from normalcy, now the boys had to do things differently and have a leader of the island. Jack began to resent Ralph because he was elected leader instead, and although Ralph had the support of the boys Jack tried to instill in them a need to hunt, he stressed the importance of getting the meat and being the leader of the hunters validated his notability. The action of hunting a pig in a traditional sense is quite a primitive one, and the more time he invested in doing so the more the hunt became about the bloodlust. There is Irony in this situation because Jack was one of the first to announce that it was important to have a leader and establish rules. “We’ve got to have rules and obey them. After all, we’re not savages” (Golding 42). Jack is also not interested in the group as a whole, he wants the title of being a leader but he doesn’t want the work associated with being one.

“‘And I work all day with nothing but Simon and you come back and don’t even notice the huts!’

“‘I was working too-’

“But you like it!’ shouted Ralph. ‘You want to hunt! While I-’…’ People don’t help much.’” (Golding 53).

Jack is constantly telling Ralph that they need to hunt to avoid building the huts. When Ralph realizes that Simon and he are the only ones helping out with building huts is when the line between civilization and savagery is first drawn. Things begin to fall into disarray because normal responsibilities are no longer being followed.

William Golding’s message in Lord of the Flies is a harsh and honest one. One that many choose to ignore.The boy’s overall failure to remain humane when they needed it most pointed to humanity’s failings as a whole when left to our own devices. The authority that they so desperately needed and the lack thereof was the cause of their misguided actions. When Jack stocked this fire by encouraging the hunt and torture of the pig, he influences the evil vices in all of the boys and encourages their savagery. His primitive nature is a direct result of the lack of structure. Throughout their struggles, on the other hand, Simon remained a beacon of hope and light for the now savage boys. He was their chance to return to civilization and regularity. Once dead, the boys delve deeper into anarchy and disarray and the hope for normalcy is lost.

Some say people’s actions are the results of their life experiences but is that true? In William Golding’s novel Lord of the Flies he shows us hope, dedication, and conflict within the group of children. It starts with their plane that crashed down, and all they have left is each other as they try to keep hope of being rescued. They soon realize that they are stranded alone with no adults and no sign of help which makes them start to take action. They ignitate their action by ralph one of the oldest boys stepping up to become leader and to take care of the rest. Rules are created, decisions are made, and conflict occurs. This creates an outbreak and shows the boys true selves. Some of the boys are more desperate than others which results in their variety of actions. Later in the novel, situations occur where significant decisions are forced to be made.

The good and evil is revealed from Jack, Simon, and Ralph.

In this novel jack reveals his evil side or could it just be the harsh reality he had to live with? Jacks evil side shows a lot throughout this book and is revealed in many ways. It starts when he is stranded on the island and is clear on his expectations “ We’ve got to have rules and obey them. After all, we’re not savages. ” but then loses his ability to stay civilized. He becomes primitive and starts brutally killing pigs among the island and shows no mercy. The boys also have a saying when they are hunting, which is “ Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Spill her blood. ” Also when Roger spears a sow pig Jack laughs as Roger pulls the spear out as if he is enjoying the death. Another example is when he hangs the pigs head on a stick and then creates a ritual dance as Simon comes crawling out of the woods and is killed with their hands and teeth that represents going back in evolution as if they were animals not humans. Jack represents evil and having no mercy as this novel continues.

As the story continues their is a different approach besides evil with Simon. Unlike Jack, Simon has more good in him and is somewhat the “mother” figure of the group. Simon works on the huts to make them better for all, he feeds the children fruit that’s out of reach, and also tries to protect by having a standoff with the beast. He goes through helping others and trying to keep organization and shelter, he is also told by the “beast” that there is no beast they only have themselves to be afraid of “ Maybe there is a beast… Maybe it’s only us ”. He also provides comfort by saying “ You’ll get back all right. I think so, anyway. ” While simon is making an impact of controlling the group he finishes talking to the beast then has a seizure, after the seizure he walks down the mountain stumbling and hunched over when the others mistake him for the beast. But then they realize it’s him but then proceed to killing him. Simon didn’t deserve to be killed by the blood thirsty Jack and others in the tribe.

Along with Jack and Simon there is Ralph who is the protagonist within the story. Ralph is one of the oldest of the group of boys which makes him a leader along with his confidence, but he also realizes even though he’s the oldest it would still be good for a grown up “ There aren’t any grownups. We shall have to look after ourselves. ” He first takes action by finding the conch and blowing on it to call for all the boys which created power for him and initially elected for leader. He is a good fit for leader and represents a civilized community within the group and creating rules that are firm and needed to stay civilized. Ralph organized a plan to keep the signal fire going incase of a plane or ship passing by and also to build shelter “ We’ve got to have special people for looking after the fire. Any day there may be a ship out there… and if we have a signal going they’ll come and take us off. And another thing. We ought to have more rules. Where the conch is, that’s a meeting. The same up here as down there. ” But when Jack challenges his power he loses his confidence and demotes himself while jack is on the uprise. To only think of how it would of went if Ralph was still leader instead of jack, would it be better or possibly worse?

Lord of the Flies has many upsets and downfalls within the community and changes many aspects of a civilized community. This novel shows the true character within yourself and the different actions people take when hope of being rescued falls apart. Leadership is one of the biggest differences between good vs evil and to keep a civilized manner versus a crazy out of control blood thirsty group. Many challenges could have resulted in different ways if it was a good character versus an evil person such as jack. Overall it goes back to the old quote never judge a book by its cover and especially when there’s sacrifice and loss of hope involved.

Overwhelmed, the plane started descending. Out of the windows, visibility was a green blur with an occasional flash of a dark, nervous sea. Within what seemed like a second, the plane’s engines subsided, and as if a china bowl had dropped from the comfortable safety of the countertop, there was chaos and then silence. Away from society and order, what is to stop young boys from being young boys? Boys isolated from the norm, and exposed to everything except what they were used to. In Lord of the Flies, a group of youthful boys becomes stranded on a deserted island, and as they experience new, frightening things, make new connections, and meet their enemies, savagery, and brutality swallow many of them into a sightless abyss. A place swirling with greed, selfishness, and desperation. A place were limits and rules become a thing of the past. Sir William Golding develops various forms of symbolism throughout his novel, Lord of the Flies, such as Jack, who represents mankind’s essential illness; the lust for power, and the desperation to achieve maximal superiority above all others.

Greed. An unflinching, unavoidable trap. It consumes its victims and can alter the complete personality of anyone. In the novel, the best example of limitless greed resides in Jack’s character. A self-absorbed, avaricious boy who seeks attention and is the definition of undeniable savagery. In chapter 9, Golding states, “Before the party had started, a great log had been dragged into the center of the lawn, and Jack, painted and garlanded, sat there like an idol. There were piles of meat on green leaves near him, and fruit, and coconut shells full of drink.” (148-149 Golding) Through the analysis of this quote, it becomes obvious that Jack felt, because he had supplied the boys with meat, that they will serve him. They will see him as their leader for he has filled their bellies and satisfied the desperation of hunger; far more than Ralph could ever do. Through Jack’s eyes, because he completed a task that proves strength, defiance, and power he should be worshiped. In the quote, it is said that he was surrounded by food, with the other boys watching him like an idol. This portrays the image of people worshiping a god. With Jack having such an inflated ego, believing, he is a god-like figure, he immediately assumes he is the most valued and holds the most importance. Jack’s greed becomes one of his main driving motives to be faster, stronger, and more respected. As the days on the island stretch on, he becomes lost in the endless battle against others to be better; part of the everlasting illness that possesses mankind.

Consistently throughout the novel, Jack finds he is lost in a world revolving around himself. When considering his interactions with others, and lack of respect towards them, it is clear that he will think of his benefit before the slight thought of the people around him occurs. He does not even consider how his irrational and actions will affect the people around him. At the beginning of the book, an example would be when he takes the “fire-watchers” to go hunt with him. He forgets the whole plan of wanting to get off the island and instead formulates this sick, twisted game of brutally torturing and killing pigs. During his thrilling expedition, a ship passes the island. Their only hope passes the island, yet the fire remains silent as delicate sparks flicker in the splintered cavities of the dried wood and the smoke no longer lingers in the air. Not only Jack’s lack of empathy but also his incapability to consider others results in all the boys having to struggle through more days amongst the uncanny island. Golding later states, “Jack had to think a moment before he could remember what rescue was.” (Golding 53). At this point in the novel, the reader is not only able to see Jack’s level of selfishness but also how it can consume one, blinding them from what is right. Blinding them from the real world, and leaving them hopelessly swimming through the oblivion of infirmity.

In the novel, Piggy states, “Which is better — to be a pack of painted Indians like you are, or to be sensible like Ralph is? Which is better — to have rules and agree, or to hunt and kill? Which is better, law and rescue, or hunting and breaking things up?” (Golding 180). When it comes to all the characters as a whole, they have one major thing in common. They’re all young boys who are stranded in an unknown place. Young boys who are curious and make mistakes. Young boys who deserve the privilege to make mistakes and learn from them like everyone else their age. In many parts of the book, it is proved that many of the boys lack maturity. Instead of accessing the situation – being stuck on an island – and thinking about how they are going to build shelters or get water, they become sidetracked and excited by dangerous, thrilling, and mysterious things. In the book, when Jack becomes aware of the fact that there are pigs on the island that becomes his top priority. To him personally, more important than being rescued. Overall, with immaturity being something that everyone experiences, it is considered normal at a young age. However, if you are swallowed into the need for excitement and thrill, where will there be room for logical and rational thinking. Will it reach the point where you become blinded by this need for entertainment that the consequences could harm, or possibly injure someone else? Once one has fallen too far into the trap, the only result will be chaos. Chaos, leading to the loss of those around you, the loss of others’ trust, and the loss of connection to others and the world. Only to produce a lonesome, solemn silence.

Golding’s perspective of mankind’s illness can be considered as one’s inability to have full self-control of themselves, and provide empathy towards others. There is always an evil within someone, waiting to make its appearance. There is a destructive, hungry being inside, and when provided with the chance, it will blind its host and bring upon destruction and chaos. When one falls too far gone to his beast, the boundary between society, rational thinking, and simple empathy will slowly crumble away. So, is Golding’s perspective upon man that they are good, but carry with them flaws? Or that they will always be able to control themselves and determine their actions? Whatever it is, there is an unsettling evil that waits under one’s skin and would be happy to appease its audience through greed, selfishness, and wearing a mask of immaturity.

“About the nature of human beings. I discovered that confronted by temptation, we will always fall. Given the right circumstances, every human being on this earth would be willing to commit evil. (Paulo Coelho)”. In the novel, Lord of the Flies, author William Golding institutes an unambiguous theme that presents the innate evil in every human being; that of which is deterred by a standardized society through deemed acceptable regulations, laws, and punishments. In the story a group of young english boys evacuate their country due to the danger of the occuring war. However, the plane is shot down crashing on a deserted island. The boys are left all alone with no constraints, allowing evil to flow freely. Leaving human nature to act upon its desires, clearly shown through the temptation of an unconstrained society, it is made evident that people draw away from reason and towards the raw roots of evil.

Foremost, expressed through the concept of hunting, unrestrained evil shows to lead to the violent and hostile nature of humanity. Though meat is not a vital concern for survival, clearly shown through the initial consumption of fruit. Seemingly, Jack holds the desire for hunting as a primary priority. Constantly and consistently foregoing his duties to go hunting, telling Ralph that, “[they] want meat”(Golding 51). There is a bloodthirsty yearning within Jack to kill and destroy; he loves his newfound freedom to act upon his every desire with no fear of punishment. With that he is completely indifferent towards the prospect of rescue and has no desire to return to a structuralized civilization. Therein revealing a profound evil within him that had previously been repressed through a civilized society. With priorities set in different places a split between the antagonist and protagonist forms that completely changes the course of the story. Additionally, there is also an inborn evil in Ralph that is made evident during a hunting ritual. The boys come upon a boar, whom Ralph is able to successfully wound. A supposed mock hunting dance then occurs, which Robert lays victim to, and Ralph can not help but join in. Though Ralph strongly advocates for rescue, civilization, and order he is also attacking Robert showing, “[his] desire to squeeze and hurt [is] over-mastering”(104). Raph being present among savages and absentminded from the desire for civilization, in turn awakes a sort of primordial instinct in him. Though two significantly different figures, it is unquestionable that evil exists within Ralph as well. With the literal absence of constraint the boys have the natural evil reining freely

Continually, the beast is an evil that reveals the true evil nature deeply within the souls of man. Before his complete reversion to savagery, Jack describes hunting, “as if [one’s] not hunting, but—being hunted; as if something’s behind [one] all the time in the jungle”(53). A parallel is made between it and the beast. The act of killing, being unacceptable according to civilized standards, is associated with dire evil that only the cruelest resort to. It portrays the evil within Jack, as he knows that killing is not tolerated in civilized society, but it is something that excites his very being. Undoubtedly, the fear that they have for the beast is what turns the boys towards more violence. A reliance on weapons not only for hunting, but also to protect themselves, evokes their innate evil. The boys are entering a distant reality, in which the existence of an unknown “beast”, and their inability to perceive this, leads them to value violence over morality. Taking the form of the sow’s bloody head there is a confrontation with Simon, in which the beast clearly makes known that it is a part of them. Ultimately, it is the barbaric instinct deep within them. Simon even states, “…maybe it’s only us that we’re afraid of” (80 )? Showing that despite the trappings of an organized society mankind still obtains characteristics that even he can. It is a form of symbolism, that the sow represents the evil and savegry if the boys. The power, a figure which strongly evokes man’s inborn evil to take over. Any ethical or moral concerns are now gone as Jack’s tribe ruthlessly murders Simon, who they supposedly mistake as the beast, but really are blinded by the evilness lurking in their very souls. Simon, being the only one who understands that the “beast” really symbolizes human temperament and who they are inside, having the power to relieve the boys’ fears about the beast, is killed, illustrating that evil is an inescapable quality of their nature.

Lastly, a yearning and craving for power also provokes the inherent evil, allowing for even further detachment from civilization to take place. A struggle for power between Ralph and Jack is present all throughout the novel. Eventually, with his strong influence Jack is able to obtain the upper hand at Castle Rock, still feeling a constant threat to his dominance. For instance, when Piggy speaks at Castle Rock, he challenges the tribe’s savagery. He points out the weaknesses of their society, and compares it to the logical reasoning of civilization, asking if it is better to have, “law and rescue, or hunting and breaking things up” (180). Piggy tries to repress the tribe’s innate evil with an intelligent perspective; however, the evil within them surfaces completely on their character and the perspective simply does not faze them. The consuming evil, consequently, leads Roger to deadly violence. He sends a boulder down upon Piggy, which kills him and destroys the conch. Moreover, following Piggy’s death, Jack feels the need to have ultimate control, and the only way to obtain that is for Ralph to die. Ralph describes Jack saying , “You’re a beast and a swine and a bloody, bloody thief”(163)! The ease Jack has in instigating a human’s death as compared to the difficulty he initially has in killing a pig shows that the inherent evil is in fact a natural and growing force. Evil has opened inside the boys, consuming and filling every crevice of their being. There is no longer a voice of reason.

While it could be argued that mankind is not inherently evil, rather it takes them being put in a situation of choice to then decide which path they will take; the reality is that man in it of themselves are undoubtedly evil and that circumstances can only reveal the truth not create a truth. For example, there is a profound and crucial moment when Jack kills a pig for the second time, the boys dance in a circle and sing “Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood” (146). This savagery is not simply created by a circumstantial situation, this is who the boys are in their very human flesh. Humankind does not become evil when there is no authority, societal norms, or laws. That may more clearly reveal the truth but ultimately man is evil regardless of time, place, date, year, or circumstance.

Conclusion

All in all, Golding is able to make clear that with the absence of a constrained society, human flesh is free to act in whichever way he pleases. Through the concept of hunting, the idea of the beast, and the desire for power it is evident that the boys in Lord of the Flies reveal a much larger truth about humanity in whole. Mankind is innately evil, there is undeniable in-born bent toward corruption and sin in the heart of every man. Although, the idea of total depravity is not enjoyable for most individuals to hear, denying the truth does nothing. The ending of a life lead in such a way, is inevitable. However, salvation is possible, in asking Christ to be Lord and Savior of life. There is no time to waste rise, go, and the Good and Perfect One to reside in your heart and life forever.

Works Cited

1. Golding, William, 1911-1993. Lord Of the Flies. New York :Perigee, 1954.

Lord of the Flies is a dystopian allegorical novel written by William Golding in 1954. It is both Golding’s first and most recognized novel, it went on to become a best-seller and it was even adapted into films in 1963 and 1990. Lord of the Flies narrates a story of a group of English schoolboys castaway on a tropical island after their plane crashes after being shot down during a war. After the plane crash, the boys quickly realize they are left to their own and as there are no adults present they have to take care of themselves. In the Lord of the Flies Golding uses the characters as personifications of various degrees of civilization, savagery, or the lack of either. From this, I concluded that the main theme in Lord of the Flies is Civilization vs. Savagery. Throughout the novel, there are many examples that support this. They each manifest traits and behavior distinctive of the savage instinct and the civilizing instinct. In order to analyze the novel and its inference it is necessary to examine and classify its main characters.

Civilizing Instinct

In the novel civilization is represented mainly by Ralph and Piggy. Ralph is the novel’s protagonist, a main representative of the civilizing instinct. He is established as the leader of the boys on the island. As he represents the values of civilization he is the one that tries to establish rules and continuously thinks of ways for them to survive and eventually be rescued. He is strong-willed and firmly believes that they should maintain all semblance of normalcy and wait for rescue, to the point that he does not understand the other boy’s willingness to give in to savagery. He is driven by a fierce determination not to succumb to the chaos and finds strength in the hope of rescue and return to civilization. By the end of the novel, although he had his wish granted as they are being rescued, at last, he is overwhelmed by the knowledge of evil within man, as he himself tasted the thrill of giving into savage instincts when he participated in the murder of Simon, and by the knowledge that what transpired on the island cannot be taken back. This is important, because it shows, that while there is goodness in civilization, it can be in certain situations overpowered by the savage instinct. He represents the “lawful good” because he for the most part acts with honor and a sense of duty to himself and other individuals. Piggy is Ralph’s second in command and he continuously provides support, information, and inventions essential to Ralph’s rule. Due to his constitution, he is forced to rely on his intellect and resourcefulness and he always represents the orderly, rational aspect of civilization. He is in many ways a more precise representation of civilization, because his belief in the rules of the civilized world is fundamental to him, for exactly the reasons these rules were created – to prevent a fight for survival that disadvantages the weak. “How can you expect to be rescued if you don’t put first things first and act proper?” He took off his glasses and made as if to put down the conch, but the sudden motion towards it of most of the older boys changed his mind. He tucked Savagery in The Inheritors and the Lord of the Flies by William Golding Page 16 of 41 the shell under his arm and crouched back on a rock. “Then when you get here you build a bonfire that isn’t no use. Now you been and set the whole island on fire. Won’t we look funny if the whole island burns up? Cooked fruit, that’s what we’ll have to eat, and roast pork. And that’s nothing to laugh at! You said Ralph was chief and you don’t give him time to think. Then when he says something you rush off, like, like -” He paused for breath, and the fire growled at them. “And that’s not all. Them kids. The little ‘uns. Who took any notice of ’em? Who knows how many we got?”. However not even he is impervious to the temptation of the savage instinct, and he too participates in the murder of Simon. He can be classified a “lawful neutral” as he is a character who believes strongly in rules, order, and tradition because he is well aware of the position of weaker individuals within society who respect no such things.

The difference between these two characters lies precisely in their respective belonging to the second axis. While both of them represent a corresponding set of values, they exercise them differently. Even though Piggy’s morality and adherence to rules are stronger and more deeply founded, he does not possess the power to put them into practice, while Ralph does. This is why Ralph is type-casted as “good” and Piggy as a “neutral” both within the context of the alignment system and in the mind of the reader as Piggy never reaches the hero status of Ralph despite his obvious importance and moral strength.