When discussing human nature, there is a never ending debate over whether man is born with sin or if he develops it over time through interacting with the environment. William Golding, author of Lord of the Flies, was quoted saying, “Man is a fallen being. He is gripped by original sin. His nature is sinful, his state perilous…” (Golding). Despite the advancement of civilization and society’s attempts to suppress man’s evil side, moral wickedness proves almost impossibly unstoppable; contrary to culturally embraced and forced views of humanistic tendencies towards goodness. It has been proven time and time again that each individual is susceptible to his natural, innate instincts. In Golding’s Lord of the Flies, the theory of original sin …show more content…
It is a condition a person has, not exactly their actions but the condition is the reason for the action. Original sin is an Augustine Christian doctrine that basically says that everybody is born with sin in them. This means that when somebody is born, they have the built-in urge to do bad things. It is not just an inherited spiritual affliction or defect in human nature, it is the consequences after the fact. Original sin is used as an explanation for the evils in the world and the potential in humans to do evil things. In terms of modern society, original sin is locked up behind suits and kept in brief cases. It is held in the charms on bracelets and wiped off on napkins placed on laps at the dinner table. Original sin is hidden behind the aspects of the modern world, playing dead, lying dormant while in the presence of rules and order. Original sin explains such things as war, cruelty, exploitation, and abuse, which are all seen through the boys in Lord of the Flies. The catch to the “human condition” is that there is no cure for it, it is a chronic illness suffered by all from the moment they are born. In the novel, like most other children their age, the boys are unaware of this illness and it is not until they are put in a position where there are no rules to follow, that their sickness becomes