Innocence In Lord Of The Flies Research Paper

Much of the innocence that is present in adulthood was not present in adolescence. The fiction novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding demonstrates this fact. Lord of the Flies follows a group of boys who are stranded on an island. As the novel continues, the boys quickly devolve into madness and the idea of fear in relation to innocence is explored. The fiction novel, Lord of the Flies by William Golding uses characterization to demonstrate that experiences with the evil of the outside world result in the loss of innocence, thus causing fear, which holds individuals back from experiencing the world around them. Ralph is characterized as an innocent child when the story begins, but this innocence is quickly lost when he spends only a couple

Firstly, near the end of the novel, Golding uses Ralph’s direct actions to highlight that negative experiences instill fear into the person they are affecting. After Simon is killed, Ralph is horrified at what he and others around him do; Piggy “touched Ralph’s bare shoulder and Ralph shuddered at the human contact,” (174) highlighting the fear Ralph now has after being exposed to negative external influences, such as the killing of Simon. The use of the word “shuddered” shows his new fear, and displays the theme of fear being as a result of growth and the loss of innocence, because now that he has lost all his innocence and learned what human nature actually is, he becomes fearful of those around him. The previously stated idea that fear prevents people from experiencing the world around them arises here because the fear that Ralph has, prevents him from interacting with the which is the others on the island, as they are the world around him. Secondly, at the end of the novel, Golding uses Ralph’s indirect actions to illustrate that ultimately, the end of innocence results in

His realization of the “darkness of man’s heart” displays fear, because he is fearful of man’s heart. His fear is shown through the word “darkness” which is an ominous and negative description, inciting that he also views humans’ hearts as ominous and negative, further displaying the theme that fear ultimately results in one being unable to interact fully with the world around them, because as Ralph develops more fear of the capability of humans, he withdraws more from interacting with the other boys on the island, until he fully isolates himself near the very end. Overall, the gradual progression of initially, being sociable and playful, to currently, being fearful and paranoid further illustrates the idea that as one grows and experiences more of the outside world, they lose their innocence, resulting in