Illusions In Lord Of The Flies Essay

The Lord of the Flies is a book that transcends time because of the many themes that can be applied to past present and future events. The author of the book has put in a plethora of ideas that can be connected to a theme of reality vs. illusion. The LotF takes place during an atomic war after a coup de main takes place and a plane full of boys is plucked out of the air and pushed into an island leaving the boys to try and survive by themselves. William Golding does well in using symbolism to portray the idea that illusions control our thoughts and actions. As an introduction to this theme of illusions, William Golding presents the idea of civilization as an illusion. In the fourth chapter, the author shows that Roger having just disrupted

Round the squatting child was the protection of parents and school and police man and the law.” (Golding 62 ). The use of symbols like the “old life”, or invisible protection of parents and other forces around the boy, show that, even though we are taught that following rules and norms is what makes us human, ultimately it is us that made these rules that control us. It seems to adhere to the fact that civilization is only an illusion made to keep the world safe. As the book advances a reader can identify other examples that emphasize how civilization is an illusion, one quote in particular seems to mirror the author's exact thoughts. As the leader of the boys, Ralph, is walking towards their meeting area, a strange thought seems to take place. “Again he fell into that strange speculation that was so foreign to him. If faces were so different when lit from above or below - what was a face? What was anything?” (Golding 78). In this quote Ralph may be thinking about faces, but in reality the author is using this to show how he contemplates not only the way concrete ideas can change based on perception, but he also questions if there is such a thing as a concrete idea. An adult lives a life where the idea of rules and