Lord Of The Flies Comparative Essay

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Many times throughout history people have ceased to act rationally and have fallen into savagery. William Golding and Aldous Huxley’s contemporary dystopian novels reflect a similar theme. For instance Lord of the Flies and Brave New World reveal how dystopian literature aims to dehumanize the individual; thereby, alerting people to the need for a stable society. Golding illuminates how a total lack of society results in the downfall of the individuals; whereas, Huxley reveals how a totalitarian society will prevent the prosperity of a societal group. Together they show the balance governments must adhere to in order to establish a stable society. Dystopian literature tries to dehumanization the individual. In Lord of The Flies, Golding utilizes …show more content…

Golding reveals the need for a stable society when the boys act out the slaughter of the beast and accidentally kill one of their own. He writes, “Only the beast lay still, a few yards from the sea. Even in the rain they could see how small a beast it was; and already its blood was staining the sand” (Golding 153). Golding shows how the lack of a stable society causes the downfall of the boys and how it actively causes the downfall of the world. He implies that just as the boys become so consumed with their game that they murder another child, people let their own irrational fears drive them to war and prevent their compassion. He knows that without a stable society to curb the fears, people will descend into savagery. In contrast, Huxley reveals how a totalitarian society can cause just as much harm. He proposes a world where “a little boy of about seven” and a girl who “might have been a year older” play a “rudimentary sexual game” without the concern of adults (Huxley 31). In fact, the society encourages such behavior. Huxley shows how a totalitarian government eliminates the family unit and causes dysfunction among the community. He warns that as the governments become stronger and stronger they will pacify people with drugs and sex. Illustrating the need for a stable society, he implies that the world has already begun its descent and without quick action the society will become manipulative and