Fear In Lord Of The Flies, By William Golding

Fear, "an unpleasant, often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger" (Merriam-Webster), lurks within us all; it can either ignite growth and resilience or keep us in a cycle of misbehavior and inhumanity. By analyzing and having a full understanding of the power that fear holds, we can make sense of how it impacts people's behavior and actions. We can look into "Lord of the Flies," written by William Golding, who does a great job illustrating the consequences of fear and the significance it holds when survival comes into play. Furthermore, Psychology Today’s article "The Complexity of Fear", by Maria C. Lamia, has her take on the intricacy of fear as she dives into analyzing fear and the response humans have towards it.

Psychology Today stresses that fear is an important factor in helping us make decisions and keep ourselves out of dangerous situations. The article strongly emphasizes that fear can greatly influence our survival decisions. The statement, "...There is another important aspect of emotions to consider that, in the case of fear, may be important to decision making as well as survival," (Lamia) suggests that emotions, including fear, play an important role in how humans make decisions and react to threats. When it comes to fear, this can trigger the "fight or flight" response, which may involve acting violently to protect oneself from danger. Additionally, the quote "Simon was crying out something about a dead man on a hill…the sticks fell, and …the beast was on its knees in the center, its arms folded over its face" (Golding 152) highlights how fear can lead to violence. The fear of the "beast" brings out the primitive nature of the boys, causing them to lash out and act in savage ways, even towards one of their own. This scene shows how fear can cause the boys to instigate their "fight" notion to protect themselves from the threat of the beast, even if this means being