Lord of the Flies Essay: Prompt 4 The novel Lord of the Flies (1954) by William Golding takes place around World War II on a deserted island in the middle of nowhere and follows a group of boys, who have to fend for themselves after their plane crashes and leaves them stranded in the Pacific Ocean alone. The novel addresses the topic of one's human nature (your characteristics, such as your feelings and physiological behaviors) and if this overpowers your nurture (the external and environmental factors that affect your development). Golding supports the idea that nature is more powerful than nurture and uses the character traits of Piggy and Jack to justify his logic. Golding uses Jack's savage character to demonstrate how humans become savage …show more content…
He starts to kill pigs to get food, which is what people would do 12,000 years ago. Back then, it was expected that people would hunt to get their meals. Now that society has progressed, most people don’t do that anymore, but that doesn’t mean it still isn’t in our nature. When people are in desperate situations, they bring out their animal side and rely on the hunt. The island environment turns these civilized British boys into monsters because humans are a “naturally violent species that, without the civilizing impulse, will turn to savagery” (Pardede). Once Jack feels the sensation of the kill, he becomes addicted and can’t stop. I think that he took the killing a little too seriously because he and the other boys ended up killing Simion, when they mistook him for the beast (what the boys believe to be a snake looking monster). They spend all their energy fearing the beast and trying to kill it, even though it was just their imagination. Later on in the book we see Jack create his own group, separate from Ralph’s (the other leader of the boys) because he doesn’t agree with Ralph's ideas and only wants to …show more content…
Another example of nature's power is shown in the documentary Three Identical Strangers, which is about triplets who were separated at birth and then reunited at age 19. The boys were raised in completely different homes and had no recollection of each other, but when they met each other for the first time it was like they had known each other their whole lives. They thought the same, acted the same, and even did the same extracurricular activities when younger. It was discovered that these triplets and many others were part of a study that had to do with the ongoing debate over nature vs. nurture. Each of these boys were each put in homes with an older sister who was also adopted. The researchers did this because the adoption agency already knew the parents, and this made it easier for them to study the difference in parenting and how that can affect children. All of the parents who had no idea that their adopted sons were triplets said that the boys would bang their heads against the wall to try and make themselves pass out due to separation
Human’s innate behavior after the constraints and expectations of society disappear is the recurring theme centering the characters. William Golding’s Lord of the Flies uses the righteous Simon to highlight Jack and his evil role throughout the novel of savagery and civilization. The foil characters in Lord of the Flies exhibit the contrasting ideals and characteristics, the dissimilar symbolism of both characters, and the circumstances which lead both characters to follow one’s natural tendencies. To emphasize the message of Lord of the Flies, two young innocent boys will gradually begin to show their individualism.
William Golding’s experiences in World War II deeply influenced his views on man’s nature. Golding’s allegorical novel, Lord of The Flies, explores the frightening and consistent, yet ignored, truths of man’s nature. British schoolboys board a plane in hopes to escape their war torn land. Unfortunately, the plane is shot down, thrusting the boys into a deserted island and leaving them to their own devices. At first, the boys look to find independence and freedom on the island where civilization no longer matters. However, it is soon clear that the boys cannot simply run away from their natural tendencies. Jack, previously a choir leader, is among the stranded boys, and slowly but surely rises to power on the island. Jack’s corrupted authority fuels his inner selfishness and leads him to consciously feed off of the fear of isolation and annihilation of his blind followers, thus proving that authority can overpower one's self-control.
William Golding’s Lord of The Flies is a exemplary piece of literature that brings to view that even little boys are able to regress to man’s natural state of nature. Golding makes known that man’s natural state of nature is in fact evil. Jack Merridew is a marvelous example of transitioning from a civilized young boy into a snarling savage. Jack is an allegory for the dominant theme of savagery creeping in when the rules of society are forgotten; in the beginning, he is aware of his actions and consequences shown through his hesitation to kill, but soon giving into his savage side when he successfully murders a sow, triggering his final form of a fully regressed savage who finds satisfaction through harming others.
Thesis: William Golding’s novel Lord of the Flies creates a theme of the true nature of man and how it will regress to evil and chaos. This is shown when the boys’ reveal their characters when society is not there to restrict them and when the boys all participate in heinous acts.
William Golding’s most famous novel, Lord of the Flies, explores mankind’s potential for evil. During the midst of the war, a group of british boys are stranded on a island after their plane crashes over the Pacific without any adult supervision. The first two boys who are introduced are the main characters Ralph is one of the oldest boys, charming and confident, and Piggy is asthmatic chubby boy with glasses who is incredibly clever. As power struggle grows between Piggy, Ralph, and Jack, Ralph is quickly voted to be leader. Ralph is growing to like Piggy’s maturity, while Jack motivate disorder and savagery among the group..Over some time, Jack gains the superiority of impact over the boys, and inspired them to let go of civilization and
In William Golding's classic novel Lord of the Flies, a group of young school boys find themselves stranded and lost on a tropical island after a plane crash. Struggling amidst a fight for survival, the boys have to navigate the struggles and difficulties of establishing a civil society and cope with their own moral compasses. Amongst this group, tension consistently runs high as characters like Ralph, Piggy, and Jack dispute over differing beliefs and priorities. Golding utilizes these conflicts to dive into the internal darkness within human nature, displaying the destructive power of fear and the dangers and risks of mob mentality. Through his intricate characterization, William Golding paints a vivid picture of the fragility of civilization and the thin line that lies between savagery and order.
Humans are capable of living peacefully because they are born pure. When the corruption of society approaches and influences one’s morality, they become progressively evil. The novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding is a tragedy which explores the hardships of young boys that are stranded on an island during World War II, and are forced to create a new civilization as it is crucial for their survival. The downfall of their fate is not just a result of their lack of experience, but due to the profound savagery in humanity. The murder of Simon and Piggy are deeds that Golding uses to portray the cruelty of the boys as they lose their compassion. In addition, Roger and Jack are seen as sadists, because as they
William Golding’s lord of the flies is powered by the ideal that savagery is imbedded within our human nature. Throughout the entirety of this novel Golding outlines the ways that savagery is an innate factor of the human condition, one that when given the opportunity, any human even the most innocent of little boys is forced to revert to. Simon’s death,Piggy’s death as well as the Lord of the Flies all display the unique ways in which the young boys descend into savagery.
At the start of the novel when the boys first met each other his was very put together and strict. Afterwards realizing how free he actually is Jack started to became extremely animalistic and savage. It seemed like Jack started to just hunt to survive but it became so much more than that , “ the spear moved forward inch by inch and the terrified screaming became a high-pitched scream”. Jack did this for the thrill of harming a living thing not just for necessary needs. Jack's reaction to the pain he cause provided that he did what he did for the pure fun of it and to anyone else it was unbelievable how a person could do such a thing and have no remorse and instead be joyful from it.
n Lord of the Flies, William Golding uses two boys from the socially rigid country of England to illustrate the idea that, if left unchecked, the animalistic nature that resides deep within human beings will overcome society’s rules and morals. The true ethical nature of the boys becomes more noticeable as time passes. The author uses his characters to symbolize two different aspects of society. Ralph is the example of civilization and democracy, while Jack is the epitome of savagery and animalistic behavior. In addition to his depiction of the main characters, Golding uses different situations to highlight that human nature, free from the constraints of society, draws people away from reason and towards savagery.
Lord of the Flies was written in spite of Golding's consideration of human evil, a topic that involves an examination not only of human nature but also its causes. What causes someone to be evil? How does someone become so terrifyingly vicious? Is a person’s development affected more by their genetics or their experiences? This is the old-age controversial topic of nature vs. nurture.
Thesis Statement: The novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding portrays the theme that regardless of each person’s different background and characteristics, every individual has the ability to commit brutal acts. While this book depicts Ralph and Piggy as the most civilized characters, and Jack and his hunters as young English choir boys, their actions reveal that they all have the capability to act violently.
William Golding’s novel, Lord of the Flies, revolves entirely around the belief that all human beings possess the evils of human nature. Throughout the novel, he shows this belief in many ways, including the boys’ rise to power, the use of rituals, and the escalation of savagery. Each of these examples show how the evils of human nature can turn a civilized boy into a bloodthirsty man. In the beginning of the novel, the boys arrive on the island, ready to make a civilized stay for themselves until someone will rescue them. However, their civilization crumbles into anarchy and savagery.
Cindy Nguyen Ms. Guest English 2A 11 March 2024 Lord of the Flies Essay When people are too isolated from civilization and forget about society’s rules, they will struggle to uphold their morals, eventually becoming savage. This is due to the absence of rules and consequences, you start to realize that you can do anything you want. This dilemma is thoroughly explored in Lord of the Flies. Lord of the Flies, an allegorical fiction by William Golding, is set in a war during the mid-20th century. The novel depicts a group of young boys stranded on an island after a plane malfunction.
Lord of the Flies Argumentative Essay Lord of the Flies is a classic book that most have read, and many argue about what led to the ultimate demise of the island. The book Lord of the Flies is a psychological thriller written by William Golding. The novel takes readers through the journey of a group of school-aged boys whose plane crashed on an island where no adults survived. As the novel continues, it describes the boy’s tries and techniques at creating a “proper” civilization on the island. In the end, they are proven unsuccessful, leaving readers to wonder what led to the island’s demise.