Lord Of The Flies Civilization Vs Savagery

Put yourself in a situation with a group of young boys; now put yourself in a group of young boys with no parents, no school, and no rules. This paints an idealistic utopian image for a majority of the 8-18 age group of growing boys. In William Golding’s Lord of The Flies there are numerous ties to utopian/dystopian themes with paradoxical motifs throughout the novel. This paper will analyze the relationship between savagery and civilization as well as the ironical themes throughout the story. One of the most profound passages from Lord Of The Flies is the ending passage where a naval officer rescues the group of boys. This passage emphasizes Golding’s ironic patterns throughout the novel and brings the theme of civilization vs. savagery full

The fire is the boy’s constant connection to civilization. The fire wavers throughout the novel; for example in the beginning the boys want to maintain the fire leading the reader to believe they want to be rescued and return to a savage less life. Golding always makes a reference to the strength of the fire in different settings of the book. When the fire dwindles and goes out the audience realizes that the boys’ savage instinct has taken over them and they don’t care to be rescued any longer. At the end of the novel the fire turns into not only a signal fire but a full blown forest fire in efforts to end Ralphs’ life. The naval officer makes note that they were led to the island because of the fire taking over the whole island. Golding brings the theme of the fire full circle in that it is what saved the boys in the end. The irony lies in the fact that the fire in the end was meant to kill Ralph and actually leads him to safety where all of the boys are

The overlying conflict between the boys’ instincts comes full circle when the naval officer rescues them. All the times they chose to act like savages by killing, and living by no rules got them into some trouble according to the naval officer. The naval officer judged them for the sheer savagery that was put before him. Golding uses symbols throughout to represent different ideas and for the theme of savagery vs. civilization he uses Ralph, who represents order and social fairness and Jack, who represents barbaric behavior as well as the undying need to gain power. This theme is portrayed throughout the novel but the most notable moment where everything comes into clear vision is demonstrated in the last passage. The British soldier states “I should have thought that a pack of British boys – you’re all British, aren’t you? – Would have been able to put up a better show than that – I mean.” This is the point of the passage where irony comes through. How can a naval officer during the war come to this island and judge these boys for killing when he is doing exactly that the only difference is he is receiving orders from a higher