Lord of the Flies

Lord of the Flies

In the novel, Lord of the Flies, William Golding tells the story of a group of boys on an island left out to self survive. The time was World War II when the plane the boys were in was shot down leaving young survivals on a deserted island without any adults. The whole story is about what happens during their stay on the island representing metaphoric ideas of humanity in each incident as Golding describes. Golding has reportedly said that he wrote the novel in response to his personal war experiences. " (The war)... taught us not fighting, politics or the follies of nationalism, but about the given nature of man." (Golding) By looking at Lord of the Flies, it is clear that Golding's view of the nature of man is negative. As he describes the happenings, he puts out an idea of humanity based on some happening of the past allowing the reader to set his mind on that specific happening through out the incident and comparing parallel ideas that Golding describes in his metaphoric writing in Lord of the Flies. He clearly identifies our basic negative side within us, present in our society making a clear focus of it, symbolizing it to be very important, resulting us thinking about a big happening down in the pages of history.

The book starts with Piggy and Ralph meeting each other in an island that they are not sure of. Piggy, explained as the thoughtful, civilized and intelligent one has had problems with his physical features back in England which he does not want here in the island. As he says "I don't care what [you] call me so long as...[it's not] what they used to call me in school...They used to call me Piggy!" (Piggy, pg. 11) Golding clearly shows how mankind have always lived up trying to go further and further away from their problems not actually fixing them but just by not facing it at all. This is a general description of features of a man as in how we survive out our weaknesses. Golding also shows how we rather prefer hiding our bad side not letting anyone know instead of bringing it out and actually trying to change it.

As Ralph says "Better Piggy than Fatty" (pg. 25) Golding describes how humans tend to find ways to escape the blame. Golding shows how people can accept the bad due to their own reasons but still feel ok about it as if they are not to blame and not worry about it at all.

As the book progresses, Jack arrives leading his group of choir boys. "[There was] something dark...fumbling along....The creature was a party of boys, marching approximately in...two parallel lines...." (pg. 18). Golding tries to describe that in human social life, there always emerges a leader or let's just say, there is competition between people to be better than the others; to stand higher than the others. One of the first things they do is pick a leader which signifies that mankind greeds power. Of course conditions and circumstances always do not come handy, but if there is a chance, there is always a feeling of standing ahead of others.

After some discussions as they figure out what they are going to do according to their skills and capabilities, it's obvious that each want to become or do better than the other. Some discussions follow representing a direct attitude of comparison between mankind. "You're no good on a job like this." (Ralph, pg. 24) As this is said, Golding tries to show us that we always try to put others down and take pride in what we are good at. Being good in something, we just think that everything related to it that we do will be for the good and we don't really seem to realize our bad doings. Golding tries to show how humans think they are superior and the concept of "I'm always right" stays very active deep within the deeds even though we might not directly give in to it. Trying to push down all on the side at your level so that you can stand high has always been present in mankind as Golding describes how the boys (specially between Ralph and Jack) try to be better than each other. Pretending to get along with each other, Golding also shows how we try to stay secure even with that evil burning inside each and everyone one of us. Comparing each other to become the better one has always been an active part of humanity. Golding shows this clearly through how the boys decide what to do.

Even though a major difference is seen between Ralph and Jack in which Ralph is more of a democratic thinker who believes getting rescued as soon as possible is important, Jack clearly signifies that they are there and that, they should survive there hunting and enjoying giving less preference to the idea of getting rescued soon; the two thoughts just seem to bloom out for themselves leaving most of the others to just follow along the right one as to the best of their knowledge. Golding shows competition between the two as of in our society where we think we are always right and how we want things always to go our way.

"The candle-buds opened their wide white flowers....Their scent spilled out into the air and took possession of the island." As Golding continues with the competitive ideas between the two boys, he brings in Simon, who is the Christ like character in the story. He basically shows that there are some in the society who wants to do good living up with the situations they encounter and still doing their best. "Like candles. Candle bushes. Candle buds" (Simon, pg 30) This clearly shows the better side of humanity as in what the island is for Simon or what it is if would be if the island was filled with boys like Simon. Simon is a very helpful character who stands neutral and just drives his road to where it is lead by circumstances. He helps everyone not judging anyone for who they are but just bringing out that helpful quality in him for the others. He helps Ralph build the shelter, the Littluns get the fruit, Jack to explore and tries keeping peace between and within all the boys.

Rules are made according to basic thinking showing social features of mankind. Where it leads to, Golding keeps a secret but till now he just throws hints to introduce mankind.

As for their first ranger activity, the boys discover pigs. Jack, who is ultimately interested in hunting for meat comes close to stabbing it. As he prepares himself to kill the pig, he just couldn't and it ran off. " I was going to.. I was choosing a place. Next time." ( Jack, pg 31) Golding describes how it is for the first time. Like, for a killer, it is no big happening to kill another man, but if it the first, however hard the person is, there is still that side in him or her that keeps a thin line from stepping ahead or remaining back.

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