Darkness In Lord Of The Flies

The term ‘darkness’ is used to illustrate the wickedness or evil man can create. Humanity can do many sickening acts, and may not recognize it until it is already too late. In the novel, Lord of the Flies, William Golding reveals the vileness or darkness of man’s heart through various incidents and characters.

Throughout the story, the boys are described as being more animalistic than human. In chapter nine, after the ‘beast’ broke through the circle of boys and fell over the edge, “the crowd surged after it, poured down the rock, leapt on to the beast, screamed, struck, bit, tore. There were no words, and no movements but the tearing of teeth and claws.” (Golding 169). The group had resorted to using their own teeth and ‘claws’ to kill what

After a littlun, Percival, tells everyone “the beast comes out of the seas,” (94). the boys argue about what the beast is and where it comes from. When Simon has the bravery to speak up about what he thinks, he says, “what I mean is… maybe it’s only us.” (96). This is the first time someone has identified the possibility that the horrid 'beast' is the boys themselves, and that they should be scared of themselves and each other. This thought is also established by the Lord of the Flies later on in the novel when it says to him, “fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill! ... You knew didn’t you? I’m part of you? Close, close, close! I’m the reason why it’s no go? Why things are what they are?” (158). The ‘beast’ is not something real, but in fact, part of the boys. One after another, they fall for the tricks their minds are playing on them and take part in cruel acts, including more innocent characters Ralph and Piggy. The darkness the beast is bringing to the boys on the island is just being created by themselves. Thus, Simon uses different incidents and his voice to reveal the darkness in man’s heart, largely through the

After the hunters could finally kill a pig for the first time, Jacks “mind was crowded with memories; memories of the knowledge that had come to them when they closed in on that struggling pig, knowledge that they had outwitted a living thing, imposed their will upon it, taken away its life like a long satisfying drink.” (74). Jack had craved wanting to kill a pig for so long that when he finally could, it was extremely fulfilling and brought him immense joy. This is not a typical response as it is expected he has some type of remorse for what they had done. Being on the island for so long brings out the foul side of the boys, and almost none of them have regrets for their actions. Nearing the end of the novel, Jack is also finally able to steal Piggy’s glasses for his group to use. This is an important part of the story because the glasses have been used to represent power and the ability to create fire for whoever had them. With this new leverage, “he was a chief now in truth;” (186). He gained his status as chief by being vile enough to rob Piggy of his glasses instead of earning his place in the tribe through respect. This is an unpleasant act as Jack previously had the understanding Piggy needed his glasses to see and survive on the island. Therefore, Golding represents man’s darkness by having Jacks excitement and dominance come from