Savagery In Lord Of The Flies

The Lord of the Flies is an exemplary novel displaying the harsh reality humanity conceals within themselves in modern day societies. Golding demonstrates a “game” setting, where the mob acts as the players who individually have distinct motives while playing. “He has selected all his characters below 14 years, well suited to play the game” (Wilson). Descending into savagery is inevitable when the game becomes reality on the island. In the Lord of the Flies, William Golding uses character development to illustrate that without order within society, the primal instincts of humans will lead to chaos and savagery. After the initial arrival of the boys on the island, there are many indications that savagery is inevitable and their innocence will

A prime example of this is when Roger attempts to throw rocks at Henry, “…round the squatting child was the protection of parents and school and policemen and the law” (52). Roger is still under the spell of the traditions and restraints that is required by his previous civilized society. Being a natural sociopath, this unleashes Roger to the full entirety of his destructive tendencies. Even Ralph says in chapter two, they will have fun until the grownups rescue them. The fact that most of the boys completely disregard the concern of being rescued, only encourages them to continue being increasingly reckless. Grasping the idea of no parental input leads to the demolition of their innocence and unity among the boys who support civilization and wish to maintain the sophistication of “English

The society was still intact until there was mention of a beast. This creates a divide amidst the older boys whether to believe them and take action to make them feel safer, or let it be until it actually becomes an issue. Jack promises that if the alleged beast he will kill it, but that if the beast did hurt them, it would serve them right (71). Getting on Jack’s good side probably seems like the most efficient option for the little ones as to not get attacked by the beast, which is where the split originates. The fear that resides in the “littluns” also eventually bothers the older boys, as • Fear works to intensify the power of the mob” (Kelly). Simon, however, points out the only thing to fear is themselves, which Ralph comprehends that the beast simply resides in the boys and nothing more. After Simon’s murder, Ralph shares with Piggy that he is scared “of