Loss of innocence in Lord of the Flies Loss of innocence is often depicted as a singular moment, but in reality, it is a gradual unfolding. The idea of lost innocence is prominent throughout William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies”, in which the consequences of unchecked savagery are evident. Ralph can only watch as the savages kill his friends without hesitation, traumatizing him for the rest of his life. Fear and desperation run through Ralph’s mind as Jack and his tribe rapidly chase him, intent on bringing about his death. The gradual descent into savagery, fueled by primal instincts, inevitably leads to a profound and irreversible loss of innocence among the characters in the narrative. Ralph is traumatized as he helplessly watches his friends killed at the hands of the savages …show more content…
After Ralph is discovered, he runs for his life, forgetting about his wounds, hunger, and thirst in the process. This way of thinking indicates his priority of reaching safety, away from the savages. It also points out the descent into savagery, as there is no logical explanation for the need to hunt Ralph. Ralph, who is not considered a savage, is forced to run for his life while being chased by Jack and his tribe members. This creates a feeling of desperation and fear for Ralph because the savages have spears. As the savages gain distance on him in the chase, Ralph starts losing hope and starts to predict the outcome of his situation, which is most likely death. Therefore, the hunt for Ralph by the savages causes Ralph to lose his innocence. Loss of innocence is a result of the gradual descent into savagery, especially when primal instincts are relied upon. Ralph witnesses the transformation of the once-civilized boy into murderous savage, traumatizing him and causing him to lose his