Lord of the Flies

In his novel The Lord of the Flies, William Golding shows humanity’s natural propensity towards violence and disorder. After being stranded on a deserted island and suddenly freed from interfering grown-ups, a large group of British boys organizes themselves and establishes a tribe. Ralph, the first leader by virtue of a quick election, advocates the building of shelters and the maintenance of a signal fire in hopes of rescue. Uninterested in the prospect of work, the majority of the boys play on the beaches. Jack, Ralph’s eventual rival, creates a second tribe with the promise of meat, fun, and protection from an imaginary “Beast.” Fear and emotions overcome reason as only innocent Simon understands that “maybe [the Beast is] only us (Golding).” As conflicts arise on the island, multiple boys are killed as Jack establishes himself as a despotic ruler aided by the sadist, Roger. It is only through the fortunate intervention of a British naval officer that Ralph’s murder at the hands of Jack’s tribe is averted and civility is seemingly restored.

The theme of Golding’s novel is the problems of human society as a reflection of flaws in human nature. In a publicity questionnaire, Golding specifically addressed this question stating: “The theme is an attempt to trace the defects of society back to the defects of human nature (Epstein).” Golding’s novel is specifically written to emphasize the universality of its message. The use of British boys is meant to indicate that even children from the most orderly of societies will eventually succumb to chaos. The lack of specific timeframe suggests that this type of story could occur not only in the 20th century, but also in the 19th or 21st. Even though the events depicted in this novel never occurred, the realistic way it is written suggests that it is very plausible. It is this very realism that makes this book such an exceptional read, fulfilling the canonical requirement of superior realization.

"Maybe there is a beast...maybe it's only us." -Simon

While reading this novel for the first time in high school, I was distressed to find that I found something of even cruel characters within myself. While I wished to associate most closely with Ralph, I found myself most similar to Jack and Piggy. This finding of similarity demonstrates the power of this novel, that it does not allow the reader to simply see the protagonist within themselves, but also less desirable characters. In looking at the world around me, I can see Golding’s message brought to life, as the chaos that existed on that island exists in the form of wars, and riots, and terrorism. The fundamental flaws in human nature of which Golding wrote have always existed, and most likely will always exist. His message transcends time, and geography, providing a realistic, if somewhat depressing, lens for understanding current events.

This novel fulfills the critical thinking aspect of the general education objectives. Our actions and relationships are based on our view of human nature. While our opinion of human nature may be shaped by our religious beliefs, I believe it is important to consider other views, such as that presented by Golding. Even if we do not accept his conclusion, we can better our understanding of human nature through reading The Lord of the Flies.

Besides the previously-mentioned reasons why I chose this book, its political themes were important in my choosing it. When my high school senior English class studied The Lord of the Flies, I was fascinated by it. Because of my experience with debate, I was able to describe events with concepts such as the state of nature and the state of society. Studying it again for my Introduction to Politics course, I gained an increased appreciation for its complexity and message. Its ability to deepen one's understanding every time makes it a worthy inclusion to my list.

Works Cited:

Epstein, E.L. "Notes on Lord of the Flies." Golding, William. The Lord of the Flies. New York City: Perigee, 1954. 203-208.

Golding, William. The Lord of the Flies. New York City: Perigee, 1954.


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