William Golding's Belief that We are Doomed in Lord of the Flies

A recurring theme among leaders in many societies today is that “absolute power corrupts absolutely” (John Acton, a 1700’s English Catholic historian, politician, and writer). In William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, this idea of leadership, power, and corruption is put in the spotlight. Jack, one of the boys on the island, forces his way into the leadership position without actually earning it. It is clear that Jack has become corrupt as he turns into a person who is intimidating, egotistical, and selfish. Ralph, on the other hand, is a quality leader under most conditions as he appeals to the boys’ sophisticated side and has a

wrote this after publishing Lord of the Flies. It is our world, in the form of a story. The two leaders in the story are Ralph and Jack. Ralph starts off a comfortable leader of the boys, but by the end of the book, Ralph and his companion Piggy are alone facing Jack and the rest of the boys. As the novel progresses and the society on the island starts to change, so does Ralph. He begins thinking he has all the answers, but comes to realize that without Piggy he would have never gotten this far. By the end of the book, Ralph and Jack are complete opposites. Jack is about savagery and fun while Ralph is holding on to society, rules, and civilization. Appearing to be a weak leader due to defection of his followers, Ralph is actually dedicated and insightful, only loosing his followers because he could not compete with one category that attracts nearly everyone in the world: fun.

It is often suggested that Golding has a pessimistic view of human nature with the idea that though humans are capable of both evil and good, evil will always trump good. While there any many points which support this such as the boys descent into savagery and jack’s resentment and subsequent rebellion against Ralph. However there are some lighter spots in the story such as Sam and Eric's refusal to betray Ralph which may counteract this view on the story.

We fell out of the sky today. I don’t know where we crashed. Other boys were on the plane so they had to be around here somewhere, but there are no grownups—that’s what Ralph said. Ralph thinks we’re on an island and he’s been calling me “Piggy.” I don’t want him to call me that; that’s what the boys at school call me. He’s been making fun of my asthma too. Anyways, he said his dad is in the Navy and he’s going to come rescue us. Ralph spotted a shell in the water—I told him it was a conch—and I remember someone that had one and would blow into it and his mum would come. Ralph blew into it (it took a couple of tries), and then children started appearing. There were a bunch. There were these twins, Sam ‘n Eric and Jack Merridew and his choir.

While William Golding was writing Lord of The Flies, he came up with many theme statements. Some of which were more visible than others, such as good v.s. bad, but it goes way deeper than that. Civilization v.s. savagery, order v.s. chaos, and fear are good themes but I think that power rising over leadership is one main theme. To illustrate this theme the author describes on pages 22 and 23 is the first input of authority and leadership and also power by saying “Him with the shell. ” Ralph! Ralph!” “let him be chief with the trumpet-thing.” Ralph raised his hand for silence. “All right. Who wants Jack for chief?” With dreary obedience the choir raised their hands.” In other word the group is saying that they want Ralph to be chief without knowing how he will lead, or even taking in consideration any others. I think the author was trying to suggest that the choir already follows Jack because he is the leader of the choir and they have to respect his power. Also that Ralph was elected leader with little power. I think Ralph has little power because he had not done anything to gain the groups respect, with little respect comes little power.

It may have taken millions of years for humans to evolve enough to create the sprawling civilizations known today, but it only takes a few months for a group of civil, educated boys to regress back into savagery. In his novel Lord of the Flies, author William Golding depicts a group of young British boys getting stranded on a deserted island sans adults. The boys must look out for themselves, forming a basic governing system and trying to survive. But the challenge soon proves too much to handle, and order deteriorates. William Golding conveys the universal theme of civilization vs. savagery in his novel Lord of the Flies using the literary elements of plot, setting, and characterization.

One’s behaviour can have an substantial impact on a society's outcome. There is a common notion that humans are nurtured to be peaceful and civil. However this belief is contradicted by the action of the boys, in William Golding’s, “Lord of the Flies”. A group of schoolboys are abruptly thrown out of their controlled and civil circumstances into an inhabited tropical island in the middle of the Pacific. The novel is Golding’s attempt to trace the defects of society back to the defects of human nature, by using symbolism to delineate this theme. Golding’s extensive use of symbolism, such as the conch, the signal fire and the painted faces helps demonstrates the defects of society. These symbols are used by Golding to illuminate the subsequent effects on the boys’ behaviour, which undoubtedly illustrates the defects of human nature on society.

I was adopted by parents who could barely afford to keep me. It was probably best that I was on the island.”

William Golding's Lord of the Flies "Everything is breaking up. I don't know why." - Ralph What is going wrong on the island and why?

William Golding believed that man was inherently evil. He was alive during one of the most gruesome wars of history, WWII. His experiences in the war significantly impacted his life and thus negatively influenced his views on human nature. Whilst in service, he came to the firm conclusion that humans are much more savage than he once thought. Man kills his brother so easily, and does not seem emotionally affected by it.

Charles Dickens, a well-known writer, once said "Subdue your appetites, my dears, and you've conquered human nature." While the thought of not having complete control of my actions and thoughts means I'm doing what's in my nature is uncomfortable, I see the truth and reasoning behind the statement. The quote can be clearly reflected in the book Lord of the Flies by William Golding. In the book, a group of boys get stranded on an island with no grownups. As the boys struggle to survive and stay connected with society, the primitive nature of the boys begin to appear. In the end, the group has completely disconnected from society and seem to have reverted to a more tribal like behavior. The boys fall to savagery is described in several ways.

      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

When humans are pushed to survive, they are willing to do anything to do so. In the novel “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding, a group of boys are stranded on an island and have to survive, however as the story progresses the boys become more barbaric and savage like. Even though there are good people in this world, there will always be evil. Why does evil exist? Golding’s belief of human nature is that humans are naturally evil and savage. However, law and civility keep humans from turning into this natural state of evil and Golding uses the development of Jack to show how savagery is created.

Lord of the Flies is an extraordinarily well-written novel that teaches one how to live life. When asked about the philosophy of the book, the author, William Golding, replied, "The theme is an attempt to trace the defects of society back to the defects of human nature. The moral is that the shape of a society must depend on the ethical nature of the individual and not on any political system however apparently logical or respectful." This completely exemplifies the theme of the novel. Lord of the Flies truly shows that it is not the government that determines survival, it is the sheer human nature in all of us that proves whether a society can function. A person's personality will always trump another person's because of difference

“The theme is an attempt to trace the defects of society back to the defects of human nature. The moral is that the shape of a society must depend on the ethical nature of the individual and not on any political system however apparently logical or respectable.” With this quote, William Golding simply justifies the theme and moral presented in his novel, Lord of the Flies. The characters portray a modern society and depict the cruelty of human disposition. The political system in the U.S., as a whole, is a prime example of the ignorance towards ethical nature and is definitely blameworthy of the ruthlessness of mankind as individuals. Change is needed!