Literature provides a fascinating lens through which the human experience can be explored and examined. Texts of various mediums can captivate the hearts and minds of audiences with the unique perspective they provide on life and human society. The transition from childhood to adulthood, spurring from a loss of innocence, is an interesting and challenging aspect of a uniquely human experience. Especially relevant for young people, the ways in which literature explores the events leading to the maturing of a person, and reflects the adversity and hardship during this time is a rewarding and captivating area to investigate. The creators of texts, explore differing forms of adversity and hardship which inevitably result in a loss of innocence. William Golding’s classic novel, Lord of the Flies, along with S. …show more content…
Darry, the eldest is the guardian of both Ponyboy and Sodapop. He is forced to look after his brothers, assuming a parental role, or risk loosing his brothers. This leads Darry to grow up quickly and destroys his innocence. Other members of the gang, who are all around twenty years and under, similarly face hardships such as abuse and criminal behaviour. Only fourteen, the novel places the narrator, Ponyboy into violent and traumatic situations. After a fight with his brother Darry, Johnny and Ponyboy find themselves being attacked by their rivals the Socs. Johnny eventually kills the boy and they flee the city in search of asylum. Later in the novel, Ponyboy experiences multiple blackouts. This reflects the trauma he faced along with his loss of innocence due the events and situations he is placed in. Additionally, by making Pongboy the narrator, the novel allows the inner thoughts, feelings and insights of events to be made apparent to the audience. It aids in the audience’s understanding of Ponyboy’s loss of innocence as his emotions are clearly made