Lord Of The Flies Evil Vs Evil

Lord of the Flies by William Golding is a novel that will open eyes to the psychology and twisted nature of man and the consideration of human evil; this is a complex topic that involves an examination not only of human nature but also the causes, effects, and manifestations of evil. Lord of the Flies demands also a close observation of the methods or ideologies humankind uses to combat evil and whether those methods are effective. Golding addresses these topics throughout his novel. Golding’s response when asked about the theme of the book was as follows:
The theme is an attempt to trace the defects of society back to the defects of human nature the moral is that shape of a society must depend on the ethical nature of the individual and not on any political system however apparently logical or respectable. The whole book is symbolic in nature. (Epstein 204)

The book is based on civilization versus savagery, which is the conflict between the human impulse towards savagery. The rules of civilization are designed to contain and minimize savagery. Ralph is the symbol of civilization by being the one to make laws and decisions, while Jack is the symbol of savagery by being a hunter and a power hungry person. This can be seen in the book when Ralph is first chosen as chief and starts setting down the laws of keeping a fire going at all times and appointed specific groups for different tasks around the island like shelter builders, hunters, and food gatherers. Jack's character can be seen when he starts to defy Ralphs orders and focuses on hunting and eventually tries to overthrow ralph because of his power hungry