Lord Of The Flies Literary Techniques Analysis

“How does William Golding use a range of literary techniques to explore how characters use their power to control others in Lord of the Flies?”

The classic 1954 book “Lord of the Flies’, written by William Golding demonstrates powerful literary techniques in order to explore how characters use and abuse their power to control others. Three techniques that illustrate this theme include: how the setting influences the characters actions, how the boys are characterized, and finally, the symbols they come to use as an element of power.

The setting of “Lord of the Flies” is designed to frame the scene, in this circumstance an “uninhabited” “island”, to explore the ideas of power and control. Golding’s technique of placing a young group of “schoolboys” on an isolated

Jack is able to achieve this by creating a tribe of “hunters”, which ultimately follow his every command. He is described as being “broad”, and suggested to be tall, which is why he seems physically strong to the younger boys on the island, making him more powerful. Not only does Jack create a group of brutal hunters, he exercises his power by insisting that the other boys leave offerings for the beast, perform rituals and necessary pig-hunts. Jack also appears to thrive off of violence, such as when he said “you cut a pig’s throat to let the blood out,” as this was a way to address to the other boys that he is powerful and represents savagery. Roger also abuses power, and acts even more violent and savage that Jack. He starts to become aggravated, and throws stones and “flings sand” at the “littluns.” He also eventually kills Piggy, and like Jack, thrives on violence and being in control of the mental torture of the other boys. Unlike Jack and Roger, Ralph, the novel’s protagonist, uses his power in a positive way and shelters the boys from the dangers of the