ipl-logo

Civilized Lord Of The Flies Quote Analysis

930 Words4 Pages

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be stranded on an island with your friends or enemies and not know if you will ever see your parents or loved ones again? In the book, the boys showed civilized lifestyles on the island. In Lord of the Flies by William Golding, a group of young boys is stranded on an island without adults. The boys must work, learn and provide for one another together to survive until help arrives. The boys were civilized, understood the responsibilities of being a leader, and followed the rules. Firstly, Ralph represents civilization in the book and is the main reason the boys are mostly civilized now. The author writes, “There aren’t any grownups. We shall have to look after ourselves”(Golding 33). Ralph creates …show more content…

In the book, it states, “We’ve got to have rules and obey them after all we're not savages, where English and the English are best at everything” (Golding 42). This quote demonstrates Jack's belief that the English are "civilized," amplifying the impact of the boys' descent into chaos. This quote also depicts Jack attempting to regain control of the boys, demonstrating his wants to be an authority figure. Golding writes, “Shut up said Ralph absently… seems to me he ought to have a chief to decide things” (22). Jack is confident of his ability to lead the group and serve as chief. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that Jack is a natural-born leader. Readers might very well disagree with how he gains, maintains, and uses power, but readers must admit that many of the other boys defer to his authority and leadership. The boys would not be safe from abuse if they did not exist. Peace is maintained in the Lord of the Flies as long as Ralph is in charge. The boys maintain their civility by having a leader and following rules. On the other hand, some may argue that the novel is ultimately savage. The book states, “kill the pig, cut her throat, spill the blood” (Golding 72). This suggests savagery because the boys are violent and aggressive when killing the pig and also don't care. This is especially obvious in Golding's word

Open Document