Cruelty Of People In Lord Of The Flies Analysis

How William Golding Expressed the Cruelty of People in Lord of the Flies

In the words of William Golding, the author of the novel, Lord of the Flies, “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.” The novel conveys that despite the rules and regulations to keep a civilized society, there is a likelihood for it to fail, unless everyone is good in nature. However, there is potential for evil in each person and mere rules cannot certify that there is goodness in someone. Moreover, it shows how all people are capable of turning into

It is evident that the characters are children due to the immature actions they showed and absurd notion they conceived. However, even though they are youthful and inexperienced boys, some of them desire and have the ability to kill, specifically Roger. On chapter 11, page 180, it stated, “Roger, with a sense of delirious abandonment, leaned all his weight on the lever”. This passage of the novel reveals the ruthless behaviour of Roger that eventually lead to Piggy’s death. It also manifests the point that evil is not only applicable for adults, but for children as well. Furthermore, the characters are unexpectedly reciting immoral phrases and saying vile words that is inappropriate for their age. “Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Spill her blood” (Chapter 4, page 69). This quote was repeated numerous times throughout the novel, but they recite this immoral chant depending on the situation. This specific quote was said after they successfully hunted the pig. It conveys the children’s aggressiveness and great bloodlust. Adding to that, despite the fact that there were simple rules, the boys still broke them. “Bollocks to the rules! We're strong - we hunt! If there's a beast, we'll hunt it down! We'll close in and beat and beat and beat-”, stated Jack (Chapter 5, page 91). Ralph formulated simple rules to keep the island civilized and in order, however these rules

The beast was just a farcical idea that the littleluns embed in their mind. However, it was also the one that initiated the savagery within them. “There isn’t a snake thing. But if there was a snake we’d hunt and kill it.” (36). Before chapter 2, Jack was afraid to kill the pig. But, after the littleluns said that there was a beastie, he initiated the plan to hunt and kill the beast. This quote portrays how the beastie somehow started the savage instinct in Jack because even though he knows that the beast does not exist, he is still determined to kill it. Additionally, they went more wild when some boys have claimed they saw the beast. “This head is for the beast. It’s a gift” (137) This quote was stated by Jack and it shows how primitive he had become. In the beginning, he could not even lay the weapon on the pig, but in this chapter, he killed and chopped the pig’s head to give it to the non-existent beast. Moreover, Simon’s death manifests how brutal the boys could be. When Simon encountered the Lord of the Flies, it stated, “You knew, didn’t you? I’m a part of you? Close, close, close! I’m the reason why it’s no go? Why things are what they are?” (143). This quote suggests that the beast is inside in each of the boys. Also, when Simon was about to tell the boys the epiphany he experienced, the boys thought he was the beast and killed him. This tragic occurrence manifests how the beast is