Category: Lord of The Flies

Introduction

William Golding’s novel ‘Lord of the Flies’ presents a disturbing portrayal of human nature and the descent into savagery. Among the various dark themes explored in the book, the prospect of cannibalism stands out as a particularly chilling and thought-provoking aspect. This essay will delve into the occurrence of cannibalism in ‘Lord of the Flies’ and analyze its significance in relation to the characters, the overall narrative, and the broader themes of the novel.

Contextualizing the Emergence of Cannibalism

In the novel, a group of boys finds themselves stranded on an uninhabited island after a plane crash. As the days turn into weeks and their hopes of rescue diminish, the boys’ civilized demeanor begins to unravel, leading to the emergence of primal instincts. Cannibalism emerges as a reflection of their desperation and the erosion of societal norms. It serves as a stark reminder of the savage nature that lies within humanity when faced with extreme circumstances.

The Symbolic Representation of Cannibalism

The act of cannibalism in ‘Lord of the Flies’ carries symbolic significance that extends beyond its literal interpretation. It represents the loss of civilization and the triumph of primal instincts over reason and morality. The boys’ transformation into hunters and predators mirrors their regression into a more primitive state, where survival becomes the paramount concern. Cannibalism becomes a manifestation of their descent into barbarism and the abandonment of societal constraints.

The Influence of Fear and Power

Fear plays a significant role in the progression towards cannibalism in ‘Lord of the Flies.’ The boys’ fear of the unknown, the beast, and the dwindling hope of rescue fuels their growing savagery. As fear takes hold, it becomes easier for them to justify extreme actions, such as the consumption of their fellow human beings. Additionally, the thirst for power and the desire to dominate others contribute to the emergence of cannibalism, as it becomes a means to assert control and instill fear in the weaker members of the group.

The Dehumanization of the Boys

Cannibalism serves as a stark portrayal of the complete dehumanization of the boys in ‘Lord of the Flies.’ By resorting to such an extreme act, they abandon their humanity and succumb entirely to their primal instincts. The act of consuming human flesh blurs the line between predator and prey, eroding the boys’ sense of empathy, compassion, and moral judgment. It underscores the brutal reality that emerges when societal norms and the structures that uphold civilization are stripped away.

The Consequences and Reflections

The presence of cannibalism in ‘Lord of the Flies’ serves as a poignant commentary on the fragility of civilization and the potential for savagery within human beings. It highlights the destructive power of unchecked violence, fear, and the absence of moral guidance. By exploring the consequences of cannibalism, Golding prompts readers to reflect on the thin veneer of civilization that separates humans from their primal nature, and the inherent darkness that can emerge in the absence of societal order.

Conclusion

The portrayal of cannibalism in ‘Lord of the Flies’ is a haunting reminder of the potential for darkness within human nature. It symbolizes the loss of civilization, the triumph of primal instincts, and the complete dehumanization of the characters. The presence of cannibalism in the novel serves as a powerful commentary on the fragility of society and the delicate balance between order and chaos. By confronting readers with this disturbing theme, Golding prompts introspection and challenges us to consider the fundamental nature of humanity.

William Golding was born on September 19, 1911, in Cornwall, England. Although he tried to write a novel as early as age twelve, his parents urged him to study the natural sciences. Golding followed his parents’ wishes until his second year at Oxford, when he changed his focus to English literature. After graduating from Oxford, he worked briefly as a theater actor and director, wrote poetry, and then became a schoolteacher. In 1940, a year after England entered World War II, Golding joined the Royal Navy, where he served in command of a rocket-launcher and participated in the invasion of Normandy.

Golding’s experience in World War II had a profound effect on his view of humanity and the evils of which it was capable. After the war, Golding resumed teaching and started to write novels. His first and greatest success came with Lord of the Flies (1954), which ultimately became a bestseller in both Britain and the United States after more than twenty publishers rejected it. The novel’s sales enabled Golding to retire from teaching and devote himself fully to writing. Golding wrote several more novels, notably Pincher Martin (1956), and a play, The Brass Butterfly (1958). Although he never matched the popular and critical success he enjoyed with Lord of the Flies, he remained a respected and distinguished author for the rest of his life and was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1983. Golding died in 1993, one of the most acclaimed writers of the second half of the twentieth century.

Lord of the Flies tells the story of a group of English schoolboys marooned on a tropical island after their plane is shot down during a war. Though the novel is fictional, its exploration of the idea of human evil is at least partly based on Golding’s experience with the real-life violence and brutality of World War II. Free from the rules and structures of civilization and society, the boys on the island in Lord of the Flies descend into savagery. As the boys splinter into factions, some behave peacefully and work together to maintain order and achieve common goals, while others rebel and seek only anarchy and violence. In his portrayal of the small world of the island, Golding paints a broader portrait of the fundamental human struggle between the civilizing instinct—the impulse to obey rules, behave morally, and act lawfully—and the savage instinct—the impulse to seek brute power over others, act selfishly, scorn moral rules, and indulge in violence.

Golding employs a relatively straightforward writing style in Lord of the Flies, one that avoids highly poetic language, lengthy description, and philosophical interludes. Much of the novel is allegorical, meaning that the characters and objects in the novel are infused with symbolic significance that conveys the novel’s central themes and ideas. In portraying the various ways in which the boys on the island adapt to their new surroundings and react to their new freedom, Golding explores the broad spectrum of ways in which humans respond to stress, change, and tension.

Readers and critics have interpreted Lord of the Flies in widely varying ways over the years since its publication. During the 1950s and 1960s, many readings of the novel claimed that Lord of the Flies dramatizes the history of civilization. Some believed that the novel explores fundamental religious issues, such as original sin and the nature of good and evil. Others approached Lord of the Flies through the theories of the psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, who taught that the human mind was the site of a constant battle among different impulses—the id (instinctual needs and desires), the ego (the conscious, rational mind), and the superego (the sense of conscience and morality). Still others maintained that Golding wrote the novel as a criticism of the political and social institutions of the West. Ultimately, there is some validity to each of these different readings and interpretations of Lord of the Flies. Although Golding’s story is confined to the microcosm of a group of boys, it resounds with implications far beyond the bounds of the small island and explores problems and questions universal to the human experience.

In The Lord of the Flies, William Golding uses Freud’s psychoanalysis to develop conflict between the characters. In the book, Jack and Piggy do not get along. They have almost opposite personalities. Jack represents the dark side of mankind and Piggy represents the vulnerable side of mankind. William Golding uses the characters, Jack and Piggy to represent the relationship between Freud’s Id and Ego.

Jack displays Freud’s Id when he acts solely based off of his instincts. He acts before he thinks things through which Golding uses to show that he is losing his humanity. Anyone would lose their morality if they were a child on a deserted island. Jack has a leader’s mentality, so when he feels disrespected he retaliates. Jack bullies the weak like the littluns and Piggy. In chapter 5, Jack teases the littluns about being scared of the beast. “The thing is–fear can’t hurt you any more than a dream. There aren’t any beasts to be afraid of on this island… Serve you right if something did get you, you useless lot of cry-babies!”. Jack is angered by the littluns crying.

This shows that Jack represents the dark side of civilization. Jack demonstrates Id by displaying his desire for power. He does not see himself as a savage, but his actions tell another story. “We’ve got to have rules and obey them. After all, we’re not savages”. In chapter 2 Jack is Ego. He is more of a leader. “Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Spill her blood.” Jack is acting violently because he gets to kill the pig. “You should have seen the blood!”. In chapter 4 he leans toward Id. ‘I went on. I thought, by myself–‘ The madness came into his eyes again. ‘I thought I might–kill.’. At this point, Jack is starting to lose connection with civilization. “Jack made a rush and stabbed at Ralph’s chest with his spear… They were chest to chest, breathing fiercely, pushing and glaring”. Jack has lost his humanity to the point where he is attacking the man he once respected. He is acting savagely.

Piggy demonstrates Freud’s Ego because he thinks more about the Consequences like the Superego but he has some Id moments. “What are we? Humans? Or animals? Or savages? What’s grownups going to think?”. “That’s right. We was on the outside. We never done nothing, we never seen nothing”. Piggy tries to deny the fact that Jack, Ralph and the boys who are a part of the tribe killed one of the boys. He struggles with accepting the truth that because he is on the island he has to act based on instincts.

Piggy is very intelligent. He thinks logically “Life,’ said Piggy expansively, ‘is scientific, that’s what it is”. He came up with the idea of using the conch. “We can use this to call the others. Have a meeting. They’ll come when they hear us—”. Piggy is an important character in the story. Piggy is one of the more vulnerable characters because he is an outsider and an outcast. The boys don’t like him because he likes to lecture and criticize others. “ How can you expect to be rescued if you don’t put first things first and act proper”. “You’re talking too much… Shut up, Fatty”.

Piggy tries to create a list of the boys’ names. Jack is able to bully him around. “Piggy was surrounded before he could back away. ‘Here- let me go!’ His voice rose to a shriek of terror as Jack snatched the glasses off his face”. This shows Piggy’s weakness because he let the boys take his glasses. Piggy could have stood up for himself and be a great leader if he used his weakness as strengths. He is inquisitive and the smartest of all the boys. The boys wouldn’t be living without Piggy’s knowledge.

In The Lord of the Flies, William Golding uses Jack and Piggy to represent the relationship between the Id and Ego. Jack hunts, fights and kills to survive. He thinks it is okay to hurt others to protect himself. He is the Id. Piggy is scared and thinks things through. Piggy is the Ego. In conclusion, anyone could be a Piggy or a Jack. Jack’s instinct is to survive and Piggy’s instinct is to be rescued.

The allegory in The Lord of The Flies, suggests that through the eyes of William Golding the world is a power chain; naturally savage people are attempting to gain control and power by preying upon the weak until they too become corrupt.

The personalities of the world can be divided into 3 different personalities called the id, the ego, and the superego: “Freud’s personality theory (1923) saw the psyche structured into three parts (i.e., tripartite), the id, ego, and superego.” The id is the personality of the primal instinct of where the selfish desires and savagery of humanity appears. The ego is the scale of the real world and the true desires that may be unreachable; the decision maker. The superego is the angel on your shoulder to warn you before you do something wrong and to put you in place after to do something wrong. William Golding thought that the world mainly gave into they had an id personality. If you have read the book written by William Golding, Lord of The Flies, then you should know that there were children were put on an island who initially just wanted to go home but eventually one by one started to fall into the id personality and become corrupt in the idea of being in total control or being close to being in total control, the primal desire.

William Golding fought in WWII; being surrounded by people who want to destroy another is rather disturbing and can leave a person disturbed. But Golding was still in a well enough shape to write a book following the war. A quick rundown of the story would be rather simple. A group of boys were stranded on an island without any adults and immediately had to boys “run” for authority over all the boys. Ralph wins and takes rule over the boys. They start off following rules and the plan for rescue but eventually they start slacking off and turn towards savagery instead of civility.

William Golding feels that authority and power are important for the human race. For one to have authority over others results in abuse of that power. They do what they want when they want to because they have this power. As Ralph in William Golding’s book, The Lord of The Flies. this results in people either fighting to overtake that person or to get close enough to that person that they are above others who aren’t as close to them. This is where the power chain comes into place.

In the words of William Golding: “Man produces evil as a bee produces honey.” Think even bigger. Honey is produced by bees on instinct. Wouldn’t that mean that evil is produced by humans on instinct? So being evil is an instinctive action rather than being a learned action or impulsive. With that being said, one could think that William Golding thought that humans are naturally savage. One could also say that Golding thinks the world has lost all innocence based of this quote: ‘Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart, and the fall through the air of the true, wise friend called Piggy’.

To conclude this story, William Golding feels that the world is filled with savage people clawing their way to the top of the power chain labeled “authority” and will break down those who aren’t following that path until they too join the journey.

William Golding’s 1954 classic novel titled, Lord of the Flies, showcased a story of how young boys cope and try to survive, as they are stuck on an unknown island located in the Pacific Ocean. Inexperienced and without the supervision of adults, these young men created their own civilization, where rules are established to keep order between them while waiting for their rescue. As they prolong on the island, conflict soon arises, as the young men would have different perspectives on the situation that they are in. Little ones saying that there is a monster on the island is what sparked the fear for all the boys, and they have dealt with that fear differently. This change of perspective is what causes the tension on the island, which led to disagreements and disarray. What once was a paradise, would become the boys’ biggest nightmare.

Universality

It has a lot of lessons that seem to be relevant to the society today. Whatever an individual’s part of the spectrum is, many themes in the novel can be wide and can be a common topic among them. One of the main themes in the book, which is about civilization, can be compared to what the current generation faces. In the novel, rules were created to establish order amongst the boys. But when Jack and his hunters were unable to comply, it led to a disagreement between Ralph and Jack.

As they were discussing in the meeting, Jack has had enough as he felt that the meeting is about the mistake he has done:

“Jack! Jack! You haven’t got the conch! Let him speak.”

Jack’s face swam near him.

“And you shut up! Who are you, anyway? Sitting there telling people what to do. You can’t hunt, you can’t sing—”

“I’m chief. I was chosen.”

“Why should choose to make any difference? Just giving orders that don’t make any sense—”

“Piggy’s got the conch.”

“That’s right—favor Piggy as you always do—”

“Jack!”

Jack’s voice sounded in bitter mimicry. “Jack! Jack!”

“The rules!” shouted Ralph. “You’re breaking the rules!”

“Who cares?”

Ralph summoned his wits.

“Because the rules are the only thing we’ve got!”

But Jack was shouting against him.

“Bollocks to the rules! We’re strong—we hunt! If there’s a beast, we’ll hunt it down! We’ll close in and beat and beat and beat—!” (Golding 79-80)

Jack, not liking how he is being confronted, decided to let out his anger, which once again caused him to break another rule made by the young men in the island. The disagreement of both Jack and Ralph led to the civilization being split by which sides everyone would wish to join. In real life, leaders of many societies would create conflict with others, as they believe that their perception is what will result in the betterment of their people and community. It is not limited to something specific, rather it can be relative to many people’s challenges in their community right now. This is what the novel is excellent for. Storytelling can convey a story that has a theme that may be replicated from real life, and how it was effective in transcending through generations, which they will continue to learn from. Bottom of Form

Artistry

The artistry can be distinguished immediately, as the novel contains phrases and words that are visually appealing to the readers. It can be said that the way how the setting of the story was greatly defined by the author, that even the readers were able to visualize the scenery as if they took place in the story as well. A moment where the novel was able to show its artistry is the following:

They were on the lip of a circular hollow in the side of the mountain. This was filled with a blue flower, a rock plant of some sort, and the overflow hung down the vent and spilled lavishly among the canopy of the forest. The air was thick with butterflies, lifting, fluttering, and settling.

They had guessed before that this was an island: clambering among the pink rocks, with the sea on either side and the crystal heights of air, they had known by some instinct that the sea lay on every side. But there seemed something more fitting in leaving the last word till they stood on the top, and could see a circular horizon of water.

Ralph turned to the others.

“This belongs to us.” (Golding 20-21)

The way it was written, Ralph and the others were able to see the aesthetically pleasing appearance of the island they are on, and the excitement that they contain, realizing the island is theirs for the meantime, was truly an artistic way of introducing the looks of the location. As readers, they would feel the same emotion, as they read through the phrases where the colors of the mountain were described, the quality of what the island contains, and just the overall beauty in the words that were used in this novel is truly a splendid way of how it spotlights the novels overall artistry.

Intellectual value

For the readers, Lord of the Flies offers not only a marvelous story, but the creative symbolism allows them to think critically about each line in the book. Take for example an object that seems to have less meaning in our understanding, but in the book, it is a very crucial thing, that object is the conch shell. At the start, the conch symbolizes the unity and authority among the young men on the island.

With it, Ralph was able to lead and create a systematic way for them to discuss peacefully, during meetings:

“And another thing. We can’t have everybody talking at once. We’ll have to have ‘Hands up’ like at school.” He held the conch before his face and glanced around the mouth.

“Then I’ll give him the conch.”

“Conch?”

“That’s what this shell’s called. I’ll give the conch to the next per- son to speak. He can hold it when he’s speaking.” (Golding 25)

The impact of the conch is so much more than just a tool, it was the status of their community. Whether the young men still believed in the shell’s power, it is still a sign of peace and order. Readers can learn a lot if they read between the lines about the things that seem so subtle in the story yet has a deeper explanation of why those objects were needed in the first place.

Suggestiveness

The novel is highly suggestive as it contains messages in the story that has a deeper meaning and symbolization of what it truly is. The following is an example of how the author wrote the setting, which can be aligned with Ralph’s emotion in that scene:

“Ralph turned to the chief’s seat. They had never had an assembly as late before. That is why the place looked so different. Normally the underside of the green roof was lit by a tangle of golden reflections and their faces were lit upside down-like, thought Ralph, when you hold an electric torch in your hands. But now the sun is slanting in at one side so that the shadows were where they ought to be “(Golding 65).

It tells us how Ralph called the meeting at an unusual time, different from what they were used to. For some, this might seem like something that is common, especially since they will discuss issues on the island. But the scenery can be linked to Ralph’s current state of mind. A feeling of unfamiliarity. Faced with a problem, where leaders are expected to create a solution in the shortest amount of time possible but for someone his age, he never had this big of a responsibility before they were stuck on the island. The setting was written that way to be linked with Ralph’s emotions to strongly suggest to the audience how it is critical in that part of the story. As the scene is established, the readers might have the same feeling and emotions of both the character and the scenery.

Spiritual value

The novel has many lessons that readers can learn from. Ralph and Jack’s disagreement and fights led to both their groups losing some people who were with them ever since they arrived on that island. The following shows the regret of both Ralph and Jack:

Ralph looked at him dumbly. For a moment he had a fleeting picture of the strange glamour that had once invested the beaches. But the island was scorched up like dead wood—Simon was dead—and Jack had. . . The tears began to flow and sobs shook him. He gave himself up to them now for the first time on the island; great, shuddering spasms of grief seemed to wrench his whole body. His voice rose under the black smoke before the burning wreckage of the island and infected by that emotion, the other little boys began to shake and sob too. And in the middle of them, with a filthy body, matted hair, and unwiped nose, Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart, and the fall through the air of the true, wise friend called Piggy. (Golding 182)

As they realize how their actions which were motivated by their conflicting idea on how they should live on the island, has led to consequences that can never be changed forever. They lost friends such as Simon and Piggy, the island, and their innocence. Both felt what they have done was wrong, only when they were rescued and at that moment, it struck them of the tragic reality caused by their childishness. The major lesson in the story is that people should not let their emotions get the best of them. When pressured, they should seek unity and not separate from each other as it will only lead to the destruction of something special that they once cared for. It teaches its readers how actions that are not thought of at first, will only cause an unredeemable result that may haunt them for a long time.

Permanence

The fact that the novel was published in 1954 and is still one of the most famous books in modern times, tells a lot about how the story still has relevance, up to this day. It is a timeless piece that is not only significant in the time it was created, but in the current and future generations as well. Many lessons can be learned in the story and in a way, readers may realize that the issues this generation faces today, are the same issues that existed even before the book was written and published. Certain elements are included in the novel, which makes even the younger generation to be interested in reading the book. Elements such as the novel’s language which gives a variety of word in English that is splendid to read, the pace which started slow but as the pages continue it contains faster action, and how close the realism of the story is to the modern world are some examples of why Lord of the flies continues to provide high levels of interest to its audience (Kainzow). The quality of the literature is what makes it still well-known today.

Style

William Golding’s writing can be said that a lot of things were written with a highly detailed explanation for even the most common object that is mentioned in the book. The novel was able to convey the intended emotions that the author wanted to express to the readers. The writing does not shy of what the characters truly felt and even the most subtle actions are able to make readers emotionally hooked to the story.

Golding was able to show Ralph’s feeling of anger towards Jack and the hunters as they are unable to keep the fire lit, and they failed to call for rescue:

Ralph turned to the sea. The horizon stretched, impersonal once more, barren of all but the faintest trace of smoke. Ralph ran stumbling along the rocks, saved himself on the edge of the pink cliff, and screamed at the ship.

“Come back! Come back!”

He ran backward and forwards along the cliff, his face always to the sea, and his voice rose insanely.

“Come back! Come back!”

Simon and Maurice arrived. Ralph looked at them with unwinking eyes. Simon turned away, smearing the water from his cheeks. Ralph reached inside himself for the worst word he knew.

“They let the bloody fire go out.” (Golding 57)

Their eagerness for Ralph to be rescued was felt at a high-level, due to the details starting from when the ship was slowly drifting away, until the time that Ralph was fuming with anger that led to him uttering a word that is considered bad for his age. It effectively makes readers continue to be interested and gain a level of excitement, with how the story progresses. The way the novel was written truly hooks the readers to the story, making them excited for what happens on the following page.

Lord of the Flies is simply a masterpiece. A classic novel that no matter who reads it, will surely move an individual in many aspects of life. The book is a fictional literary piece that mimics people in real life and shows the possibility of how one person or a group will handle the situations that occurred in the book. Each page offers various learnings and emotions from the setting, characters, and theme of the book. Overall, Lord of the Flies will continue to inspire audiences from generations, with its excellent writing and effective storytelling.

Works Cited

1. Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. New York: Penguin Books, 19541982. Print. Fb2 book free,fb2bookfree. comuploadsfiles2020-051590811424_lord-of-the-flies.epub. Accessed October 6, 2021.
2. Kainzow.” Why You Should Read The Lord of the Flies”, Eye of Lynx, March 20, 2014eyeoflynx. WordPress.com20140320why-you-should-read-the-lord-of-theflies#:~:text=Verdict: It is very unusual,freshness is e verlasting; it is. Accessed November 15, 2021

The novel “Lord of the Flies”, written by William Golding is centered on the conflict between two opposing impulses that all humans, according to Golding, have: the instinct to follow the rules, act peacefully, and obey moral commands, and the instinct to use violence to gain control over others and satisfy one’s own greed and selfish ambitions. The novel portrays this conflict as savagery vs. civilization, as well as the basic saying of evil vs. good. Ralph and Jack, the two central leader characters in the novel, are used by Golding to symbolize the fight between good and evil in human nature.

Ralph is a character who represents order, leadership, compassion, and authority. Ralph has a strong awareness of civilization’s principles, and as a leader, he displays useful human attributes by working to better the boys’ community. He understands that the boys require stability and order to remain civilized and when Ralph is the chief he establishes rules and standards. In the hopes of being rescued and returning to humanity, he commands the group to construct fundamental necessities of civilization, such as shelters, and, most importantly, to keep the fire running.

Jack, however, is a symbol of untamed savagery and a desire for power and dominance. Throughout the novel, Jack evolves from a civilized schoolboy to a symbol of anarchy and brutality in a world devoid of norms and order. Jack represents the base nature of humanity, and Golding utilized his character to show that when human beings are separated from civilization, they are vulnerable to savagery. The conflict between Ralph and Jack shows that the evil in Jack outweighs the good in Ralph. In Lord of the Flies, the boys’ makeshift civilization crumbles under the weight of their inherent savagery; instead of following laws and working hard, they pursue fun, succumb to fear, and resort to violence. The central theme of Golding’s novel is that humans are savage by nature, motivated by intrinsic desires to be greedy, harsh, and domineering over others.

The imaginary beast is a symbolic creature in the novel that shows how human nature changes as one travels further away from civilization. The boys believe the beat resides in the jungle, but Golding makes it obvious that it only exists in their hearts. Except for Simon, most of the boys believe in the beast. ‘What I mean is. Maybe it’s only us.’ During the group’s deliberations on the best’s actual existence, Simon suggests that the beast might just be a figure conjured up in the boy’s heads. Simon’s belief is consistent with Golding’s belief in the existence of underlying human evil. Simon is the first character to recognize that the beast is a part of human nature, rather than an external force.

The novel Lord of the Flies offers an interesting look at human behavior in a society when civilized society’s laws are no longer in effect. The novel strongly suggests that Golding believes that man is inherently and naturally wicked. It also warns us that when the time comes, we have the ability to devolve from order to chaos. When a society is unable to manage a person’s behavior, the person’s sense of cruelty intensifies, leading to brutality and violence. Golding’s depiction of the dark side of human nature looks to be highly realistic, as one human’s act of violence against another is witnessed on a daily basis, whether on a tiny individual scale or in a large-scale worldwide conflict. The moral of Golding’s story is clear: a civilized society influenced by the impacts of governance and order, both are which are absent in Lord of the Flies, is humans’ best hope for recognizing and managing the monster within them. If not, despite laws attempting to maintain order, humans are greedy for power and dominance.

Brutal. Inhumane. Savage. Preteen boys rapidly shift from civilized British children to ruthless and barbaric warriors. Lord of the Flies, published on 17 September 1954, is a novel written by Nobel Prize-winning author William Golding. In this book, British schoolboys crash onto a deserted island out in the middle of the sea. No adults, no rules. Their attempt to rebuild civilization horribly fails. Conflicts, war, and death occur. Savagery is a major theme within the novel and is linked to many of the problems that occur in the book. I strongly believe that savagery is the most impactful theme on the audience as it shows how isolation and the fall of a civilization affect people and their actions. My name is Shane, and in this speech, I will discuss how everyone is inherently evil, how the loss of innocence can occur, and how fear influences savagery.

Everyone is inherently evil

Firstly, the novel clearly demonstrates how everyone is inherently evil. In society, we are told to show respect and to have good morals – to follow rules. The boys crash onto the island with no pressure from society, and no instructions to follow. Since they are so used to having to follow strict rules in their everyday life, having no rules is a new and exciting experience. Wouldn’t you think that having no rules is great? It does on paper, but after a while the boys soon realize that these rules have kept them from diverting into their primitive behaviors. Roger is a perfect example of man’s inherent evil. Early in the book he is seen throwing stones at littluns, though aiming to miss. This gives him thrills for violence and even makes him feel that he is capable to kill. This manifests as the story goes on and eventually takes control of him and he succumbs to his sadistic behaviors and kills Piggy. Another event that is key evidence of man’s inherent evil is when Ralph unintentionally finds himself hunting with the hunters. They find a pig run and Ralph manages to hit the pig in the snout with his spear. He repeatedly says, “I hit him!” (page 162), flustered in fright, apprehension, and pride. This quote on page 162, “He sunned himself in their new respect and felt that hunting was good after all”, clearly shows how even someone like Ralph, a civilized leader can succumb to inherent savage behaviors. In the same way that the boys are inherently evil, this can be seen in the real world today. With the recent outbreak of the Coronavirus, people have been frantically rushing to buy home supplies, buying as much as they can without even thinking about other people. Due to the virus beginning in Wuhan, China, there is also a lot of xenophobia and racism around Chinese people. This shows how even though we may show our evil differently, there is undoubtedly a link between the inherent savagery in Lord of the Flies and the evil found in the real world today.

Loss of innocence

Now onto my next topic, loss of innocence. When you hear the words ‘British school-boys’, what do you think of it? When I think of British schoolboys, I think of civilized, well-behaved, and orderly children. This is the complete opposite of what the boys in the novel have become. The painted masks are a clear example of this loss of innocence. The paint masks symbolize how the boys are shifting into a tribal environment. Skilfully, Golding also demonstrates how these masks are also a way for the boys to cover up from shame, embarrassment, and humiliation. This quote mentioning Jack on page 154 clearly shows this, “he was safe from shame or self-consciousness behind the mask of his paint and could look at each of them in turn”. More evidence that shows the loss of innocence in the boys is the hunters. Due to the absence of laws and civilization, the boys’ desire for power and savagery manifests, and a hunting tribe is formed. The hunters, a group led by Jack, are savage monsters whose two main goals are to hunt and kill. These hunters have killed countless animals, including a boar that they slaughtered and put its head on a stake. These are the lengths that these hunters go to and truly show how they have diverted from society and have fallen into savagery. ( Be a bit more persuasive by using exaggerative words such as The boys are ruthless, savage, killer animals)RED-The painted masks are a clear example of this loss of innocence because it symbolizes….. detailed

Fear influences savagery

The last point that I will be discussing today is how fear influences savagery among the boys. Fear is a major theme within the novel and affects the characters’ thoughts and actions. Fear first begins during chapter 2 where the littlun with a big birthmark on his face tells the group how he claims to have seen a “snake-thing” which he then calls the “beastie”. This first mention of a beast sends the boys into fear and unease about their safety on the island. Now, close your eyes and imagine. Imagine if you were on a deserted island with a small group of people, and you hear that there is a monster that is somewhere on this island. The chances are very high that you would feel scared, correct? Golding cleverly uses this fear and turns it into a drive for savagery in some of the boys, mainly Jack and his ruthless hunters. This fear first begins small, but it grows to become bigger and more prevalent in the book. In some people, this fear manifests in their savagery and bloodthirst, and it shows in a major event in the book. This event takes place in chapter 9. The boys are beside the campfire, dancing, like the wild animals that they’ve become. They begin doing their ritual dance, but out of the forest comes Simon, rushing to tell the boys that there is actually no beast. It’s dark, and the boys had no idea that this is Simon. Out of their own fear, they rush toward him and brutally stab him to death. The evidence of there being no beast dies away with Simon.

Conclusion

In conclusion, William Golding’s Lord of the Flies cleverly captures the theme of savagery within the novel. He uses man’s inherent evil, loss of innocence, and fear to significantly impact the audience and show the audience how savagery can be linked with real-world events. Without a doubt, Lord of the Flies is a must-read book as it has great character development, well uses symbolism, and explores many themes.

Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, tells the story of a group of boys stranded on an island. The novel begins when a plane carrying a group of school-aged boys crashes into a remote island. The boys must figure out, on their own, how to run the island to stay alive. Piggy, a brainiac, and Simon, an elusive young boy, are both static characters. As Simon and Piggy’s characters unfold, their psychology, role, shortcomings, and motives unfold too.

Piggy is an outcast in the group of boys, he is cast aside, yet is the brain of the group. He is the only boy on the island that has common sense, and reasons for the bad decisions made. He knows what to do with the conch, what a signal fire should look like, and the relative time of day according to the sun Piggy also thinks methodically. He also often quotes his aunt, who is the only female voice on the island. Piggy wears glasses, is fat, and has asthma. This is important because Piggy’s glasses are part of the reason the boys survived so long on the island, due to the fact that his glasses start the fire. Piggy represents the cultural, and rational part of society. Piggy’s main motivation mainly comes from Jack and his hunter’s rebellious nature and the tension between the two clans, he wants everyone to abide by the rules of a “civilized” society. Piggy clings on to the last piece of civilization by following the authority of not the island but what he had in London because there is no authority on the island, he simply is used to thinking if he does something bad he will be punished. Piggy’s psychology is still on the first level of thinking. He is always mentioning his aunt when doing something or using the conch shell because Piggy is worried that they will get in trouble with an adult on the island yet there isn’t any. His perspective on survival never changes even up to his death. Piggy’s shortcomings are poor eyesight, a weight problem, and asthma, he is also the most physically vulnerable of the boys.

Simon is the most in touch with himself as a character in the novel, Simon has a deep connection with nature and often enjoys walking alone in the jungle. Simon’s role as an artistic, religious person is shown not only by his hidden place of meditation but also by the description of his eyes: ‘so bright they had deceived Ralph into thinking him delightfully gay and wicked.’ Piggy has the glasses, one symbol of vision, and Simon has bright eyes, a symbol of another kind of vision and truth. Simon is different from the other boys not only because of his physical weakness, shown in his fainting spells and medical conditions but also in his consistently expressed concern for the other weak boys. Simon represents human beings’ spiritual nature and being. Simon has an understanding of how human minds work, this is why he often walks alone in the woods because he tries to get in touch with reality. Simon’s main motivation is his desire to stay alive and help others survive as well. This is shown when he comforts Ralph and tells him that “You’ll get out alright” or when he is the only one to assist Ralph in building the final shelter. Simon’s train of thought is probably the most mysterious out of all the boys. He walks around the island during the night when the other boys are too afraid to step out of the shelters. Simon has a “special place” on the island that he goes to so he can understand his surroundings and keep himself from going insane.

Teenagers can be very inconsistent with their actions and their emotions can change in the blink of an eye. So, why are teenagers this way? Teenagers act the way they do because nature and nurture impact their identity. This will be explained through psychological studies and personal experiences. It will also express connections with Lord of the Flies and how nature versus nurture impacts the boys in the book.

In Lord of the Flies, there are many examples of how society shaped the boys into who they are and how these morals are gradually lost throughout the book. At the beginning of the book, nature required them to hunt food on the island but, the boys were raised knowing that they’d always have food. Therefore, they didn’t know what to do, when it came time to hunt. “He raised his arm in the air. There came a pause, a hiatus, the pig continued to scream and the creepers to jerk, and the blade continued to flash at the end of a bony arm. The pause was only long enough for them to understand what an enormity the downward stroke would be” (Golding 31). They’d never hunted before and their nurture was telling them that they were ending a life, which is hard. At the same time, nature was telling them that the pig is food and they need food to survive. They had also arrived on the island with much conditioning. With the conditioning, they attempted to make society on the island and vote for a chief. “Vote for chief!” (Golding 21). Even though they could live on the island, they knew they had to be rescued. “We’ve got to decide about being rescued” (Golding 20). It was part of their nurturing that they had to go back to society.

In the middle of the boys’ stay on the island, they still had the societal hold on their actions but, it was fading quickly. They began to have views that opposed their actions. For example, Roger, when he threw stones at Maurice, made sure he didn’t hit him because he still had good morals:

Roger gathered a handful of stones and began to throw them. Yet there was a space around Henry, perhaps six yards in diameter, into which he dare not throw. Here, invisible yet strong, was the taboo of the old life. Round the squatting child was the protection of parents and school and policemen and the law. (Golding 62)

The boys eventually stopped thinking about what they were doing. They just did whatever came to mind. When the boys are messing with the rocks, they don’t think at all. They push the huge rocks without thinking of the consequences because they want to do something destructive. “A knot of boys, making a great noise that he had not noticed, were heaving and pushing at a rock. As he turned, the base cracked and the whole mass toppled into the sea so that a thunderous plume of spray leaped halfway up the cliff. Stop it! Stop it!” (Golding 107). However, Ralph is still conditioned to know that the boys should not have been playing with the rocks because they didn’t know what could happen. Thus, by the middle of the book, the boys were still conditioned a little but, it was only enough to not kill anyone.

By the end of the book, everyone had lost all or most of their societal standards. Ralph lost his standards after everyone, except Piggy. He began to lose his hold on society when he forgot that they needed to be rescued. “He tried to remember” (Golding 221). Then, he lost himself again when he joined in the chant of Jack’s tribe. “Ralph too was fighting to get near, to get a handful of that brown, vulnerable flesh. The desire to squeeze and hurt was over-mastering.” (Golding 115). However, they all completely lost themselves when they killed Simon. “At once the crowd surged after it, poured down the rock, leaped onto the beast, screamed, struck, bit, tore. There were no words, and no movements but the tearing of teeth and claws.” The boys are frightened of the “beast”, Simon, and their instincts cause them to kill him. Hence, by the end of the book, all the boys had completely lost themselves.

Throughout the novel, there are many symbols of nature versus nurture applied to the boys. Piggy is the prime example of civilization, so the nurturing from society never wore off. Jack is an example of nature because he loses all standards from his previously nurtured life. ‘Jack was bent double. He was down like a sprinter, his nose only a few inches from the humid earth’ (Golding 48). When he started to act like an animal, he started to turn into his most primitive self. Simon is the symbol of consciousness because he is the one that knows right from wrong. Lastly, Ralph is the leader and mediator that helps see everyone’s point of view.

These symbols of nature versus nurture are explained by Sigmund Freud’s theory of personality. In Lord of the Flies, Jack is the id. In Freud’s theory, the “id is a primitive part of the mind; it is instinctual and unsympathetic” (McCarthy). Jack became the most primitive he could become as he never thought about anything he did. Ralph is the ego, the one who mediates and protects the id. Ralph is the ego because he is the mediator between Jack and Piggy. Lastly, Simon is the superego, the one “responsible for chastising the ego for failing to suppress the id” (McCarthy). He has perfect behavior, so he’s the ideal image of what someone should be.

One psychological study regarding nature versus nurture included the Stanford prison experiment. In this study, college students are studied to see how they would react to a prison environment. Twenty-one people are studied, half are guards and the other half are prisoners. They were placed in a fake prison in the basement of a Stanford psychology building. The guards were told that there were no rules and to do whatever they thought fit to discipline. During this six-day experiment, the guards abused the prisoners because of the power that was given to them. The prison environment made them think differently. “Most of the guards found it difficult to believe that they had behaved in the brutalizing ways that they had” (McLeod). They all reverted to their id personality types because they didn’t have the rules of society to conform to.

In my experience, I believe nature and nurture have had equal importance in my life. I have a large family and I am the middle child; therefore, I have many older siblings to look up to and younger ones to look up to me. I remember as a kid, looking up to my older brothers and sisters and imitating them constantly. Now some of those things play into my everyday life. This is one way how nurture has played into my life, by incorporating things that I’ve seen and learned from my family into how I act today. I also see in a broader sense that today’s teens, including me, depend on our phones. In the times before cell phones, teenagers didn’t need phones but, now we’ve been nurtured into requiring a phone constantly.

Nature has also affected how I act in many situations. I, as a teenager, have many hormones that can get out of control. For example, I might feel sad or mad for no apparent reason. This is because of the natural hormones produced during puberty that make teenagers feel drastically different emotions in short periods. Teenagers today can also be very impulsive or unpredictable. This is because of the white matter in their brains. The white matter is located in the prefrontal cortex and “The frontal cortex is associated with decision-making, insight, judgment, and inhibitory control” (Packard). As teenagers our brains aren’t fully developed, leading to impulsive acts. Hence, natural hormones and undeveloped brains lead to some of teenager’s behaviors.

I believe just as in Lord of the Flies, there are examples of Freud’s personality traits in real life as well. The real-life examples aren’t as drastic as the ones in Lord of the Flies because most people aren’t stranded on an island, but there are still examples. An example of an id person would be a bully. They don’t know how to act and do things without thinking. The ego would be the person that disciplines the bully, like a teacher. While, the superego would be the person that makes the teacher feel bad for not disciplining the bully, like a principal.

Overall, teenagers are the way they are because of nature and nurture. Nature is the things they do without thinking and nurture is the environmental impact. Teenagers may sometimes be wild and unpredictable, or they may be good. It all depends on their hormones and what’s going on in their life at that moment.

Lord of the Flies can be categorized into two genres: allegorical and dystopian fiction. An allegorical novel is when a writer may use symbols/objects or characters to convey a moral and deeper meaning. His central message is the concept of civilization is fragile.

In chapter 2, page 34, the beast is introduced. At first, it is described as a “snake thing”. Snakes generally have negative connotations as it is usually used to portray, one of the reasons is the story of Genesis, it is believed that it was the snake/serpent that led Eve to eat the forbidden fruit and corrupt her mind this leads the readers to believe that the snake/beast is clearly evil and symbolizes the inherent evil within ourselves. The readers can comprehend this concept, and Simon is the first character to ‘Maybe there is a beast…maybe it’s only us.’ -Chapter.5 page 95

Ralph denies the existence of there ever being a dark side to humanity, despite witnessing it firsthand with the hunters and Jack when they turn barbaric and into savages. ‘Something he had not known was there rose in him and compelled him to make the point, loudly and again. ‘But I tell you there isn’t a beast!” Instead, the rest of the boys see this beast as an animal rather than the idea that evil is inherent in each individual. Golding’s use of exclamative here shows

The boy’s belief in the beast leads them to behave more barbarically and act from feelings of fear, by doing this, they are not bounded to the rules that were initially introduced by Ralph and as a result, they begin to demonstrate barbaric behavior and a loss of civilization.

It could also be described as a dystopian novel because Golding presents the characters living in a state of fear, the opposite of a utopian society. A utopian society would have a stress-free environment and be perfect for its citizens. A place where people can be free of suffering. Dystopian writers such as Golding, embed fear and violence into the novel to convey a wider message. At the beginning of the novel, the readers are led to believe that the boys are living in a utopian society, and this is because of Golding’s choice of setting. Being surrounded by beaches, water, and exotic fruits. However, this novel only reinforces the idea that suffering is inevitable as it is a result of their inherently flawed nature. Golding presents the characters as being in constant suffering. The boys go hungry and become dirty, living in constant fear of the beast, all whilst being under the cruel and oppressive rule of Jack.

The message is that it only there can never truly be a perfect and stress-free society for its citizens (utopia), however, it can be made easier and better through a democratic system, and the protagonist represents this. A conch shell is used to symbolize a civilized society that works through democracy, it also acts as authority between the boys. This is evident in chapter 2, page 31 when Simon says “ I’ll give the conch to the next person to speak” This civilization that has been created on this island almost reflects where they left from. However, the conch quickly becomes a symbol of great power and is used to represent the stark contrast between democracy (Ralph) and dictatorship (Jack)

The writer uses a third-person narrator, this voice is completely separate from the other characters. Golding’s choice to use an omniscient narrator is effective because it allows the narrator and readers to stay objective. Most of the narration is dedicated to the protagonist, Ralph and this may cause most readers to become slightly biased and lean towards characters like Ralph, however, with a third-person narrator, the reader is allowed to see what is going on without certain characters clouding their judgment.

On the other hand, the novel ‘We Need to talk about Kevin’ is written by Lionel Shriver in a first-person narrative. This is evident in the first line of the novel chapter 1 page 1 when Eva begins the letter by saying “I’m unsure why one trifling incident this afternoon has moved me to write to you”. Shriver’s choice to use a first-person narrative is effective because it creates a vivid portrayal of the character’s thoughts and emotions, creating an intimate feel. Shriver’s choice of narrative allows the reader to create a bias and be able to empathize with Eva. Golding does the opposite of this and allows the readers to remain objective.

Golding’s writing style in this novel is a mixture of vivid descriptions of nature, capturing graphic action scenes and lengthy passages of dialogue. Although his writing style has a mixture, it is effective as it creates a sense of foreboding which is maintained throughout the novel. The sense of foreboding reflects how the group of boys socially declines and turns into barbaric behavior, violence, and chaos. The writer generally uses different types of techniques to tell the story, however, the content of the novel almost always goes back to the problem of evil, civilization vs savagery, and how they’re binary opposites.

When Golding was writing Lord of the Flies, the society he was living in was different. The Second World War that Golding served in, ended but Britain was still dealing with the effects of war and grieving. The few years that Golding served still had a huge impact on his life and the way he viewed society. Golding was exposed to barbaric behavior that humans were capable of. During his time here, Golding was able to examine the duality of man and how the “civilized” side of humanity can quickly turn barbaric and savage. When writing about his experiences serving in the war, Golding says “man produces evil, as a bee produces honey.” Ultimately saying that it is natural for humankind to act in such a way and evil is inherent within every individual.