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William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, is a classic novel about a group of schoolboys stuck on an island where fear and savagery consumes them. From the beginning of the book to the last page fear has a prominent role in the novel. Fear in the book manifests itself with many thoughts including what the littluns refer to as the beast, and the fear of not getting home. Fear leads some of the boys to make regrettable decision and it also leads Jack to a position of power. In Lord of the Flies by William Golding fear dominates the island that the boys are stranded on and this fear leads the boys to positions of power and influences some of the boys to make regrettable decisions.
Left behind by others, Simon is left all alone in the glade with the pig head. When he makes a remark aloud, the Lord of the Flies (the pig head) responds with, “There isn’t anyone to help you. Only me. And I’m the Beast…. Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill!...
As all the boys start to develop into savage people the fear of the beast tends to increase. Simon is the only who doesn’t believe in the Beast but no one tries to understand his way of thinking. Beast is the reason why one of the boys gets killed. The Beast represents evil and darkness on the island. The Lord of the Flies is the Pig’s head Jack cuts which is
Simon becomes aware of his internal cruelty when it manifests itself in hallucinatory forms as “The Lord of the Flies”. Simon at first lacks the understanding and cannot comprehend what is happening until the hallucination says “‘Fancy thinking the beast was something you could hunt and kill!’ said the head. For a moment or two the forest and other dimly appreciated places echoed with the parody of laughter. ‘You knew didn’t you?
The quote “‘Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill!’ said the head.” (Golding 164) expresses that the Lord of the Flies is divulging to Simon that the evil is not something that can be hunted or killed but is within the boys. Simon also learns that the beast of evilness was in the boys all along. The theme Inherent Evil of Man is displayed through Simon learning that evil is within the boys and that this was the beast. This shows how the evil action appears as a beast and the understanding of evilness by
Although the other boys laugh off Simon’s suggestion, Simon’s words are central to Golding’s philosophy of anti-transcendentalism, that innate human darkness exists. Simon is the first character in the novel to see “mankind’s essential illness” which in turn, shows the beast not as an external force but as a component of human nature. Simons deep understanding of the beast is further expressed in his hallucination or his “discussion” with the lord of the flies that he has after one of his fainting spells, “There isn't anyone to help you. Only me. And I'm the Beast...
Simon is always immerse in his own world, and always in the woods trying solve the mystery of the beast. When the boys are discussing about the beast, Simon points out that the beast “maybe it’s only us” (pg. 126). When he encounters his imagination, a pig head, “Lord of the Flies,” he comes to understand that all along, the beast is
In the classic novel, Lord of the Flies, William Golding creates an elaborate, dark tale using various literary devices to display the overarching theme of the innate evil that everyone possesses. Golding describes a descent into chaos when taken from civilization due to humanity's cruel nature. His use of multiple literary techniques helps to depict an image of pure destruction and chaos to the readers. The message is portrayed through inanimate objects used by the boys, and even the characters themselves and their actions. By using symbolism, and vivid imagery, William Golding alludes to our innate primal instincts, the deterioration of societal order, and an underlying message of a fragile society.
However the beast truly is only within them, Golding uses the beast to symbolise and show the reader the evil within everyone including a pack of young boys, the concept the boys have of the beast begins to break down the order on the island.
Overall, The Lord of the Flies was a very graphic novel that sought to depict the dark side of human nature. Every aspect of the novel contributed to the overall theme. From the Golding’s decision to use teenage boys as the main characters because of their disposition to behave recklessly to his use of the pig’s head to represent the devil, the story is a very effective cautionary
The Renaissance in Europe was a time in which the modern age began, because of humanism that centered on human interest. It was a huge change to switch from a religion based society in the Middle Ages to a people based society in the Renaissance. During the Renaissance, humanism effected political philosophy, art and religious change. Most of the philosophy was severely changed during the Renaissance due to humanism. Niccolo Machiavelli of Florence, Italy was one of the main contributors of change.
Loss of Innocence Is mankind inherently evil? Perhaps children aren’t actually innocent. Nature versus nurture has been a discussion for years whether we develop our personalities from where we grow up or if we are born the way we are. Lord of the Flies written by William Golding, illustrated the theme of loss of innocence; a matter on youth having to quell life’s reality. The effects of the island the novel takes place in posts a violent demeanor on the boys stranded on it.
Humans are complex creatures. Understanding human nature is difficult, but the novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding helps to show what true human nature looks like. Humans are inherently evil, but that evil is hidden by societal dictates. Throughout the novel, the human societal mask is stripped away and true human nature can be seen. Society enforces rules and trends that people feel they must follow.
During Simon’s encounter with the Lord of the Flies, Golding reveals the central issue concerning human nature. Simon reaches the realization that they fear the beast because it exists within each of them. The Lord of the Flies tells Simon that the beast is inside each boy and cannot be killed. The boys go from behaving like civilized young men to brutal savages. “What I mean is…maybe it’s only us.”
Lord of the Flies by William Golding is a novel that’s shaped by its representation of childhood and adolescence. Golding portrays childhood as a time marked by tribulation and terror. The young boys in the novel are at first unsure of how to behave with no adult present. As the novel progresses the boys struggle between acting civilized and acting barbaric. Some boys in the novel symbolize different aspects of civilization.