Corruption In Lord Of The Flies Essay

Stranded on a utopian-like island, boys who have landed in an airplane crash anticipate a new life of carefree adventure. However, things quickly take a turn for the worse as they begin to settle in. Lord of the Flies is regarded as a classic literary novel for its depiction of deeper meanings through the use of literary tools. Its exploration of themes such as corruption and societal demise has stood the test of time. Specifically, the symbolism and characterization within Lord of the Flies reveal the message that the destruction of a society is inevitable if entrusted to the selfish. The symbolic evolution of the conch, painted masks, and fire develops the message of selfishness, leading to a society’s deterioration. In particular, when the overwhelming conflict between the

The absence of order drives the members of Jack’s tribe towards brutality, causing their sense of civility to vanish. This undoubtedly set the stage for the disruption of chaos within their society. Moreover, the hunter’s obsession with hunting and their refusal to commit to standards plays an essential role in societal demise. Specifically, a ship comes near the island, but the signal fire is “smokeless and dead”, while the watchers “were gone” hunting instead of tending to the fire (80). Their inability to maintain the signal fire demonstrates their preoccupation with hunting growing to the point of disregarding the most important goal on the island — rescue. Largely due to Jack’s influence, the hunters fail to contribute to their society due to their self-centered fixation on hunting. As they continue to ignore any attempt to maintain an orderly civilization, they start to form a hatred for societal standards. Their obsession with hunting, along with their rejection of order, results in their descent towards