Savagery In Lord Of The Flies Essay

People constantly question Human mortality, yet the recurrence of violence is an irrefutable tendency. Human conflict is unavoidable, manifesting itself not just through wars and battles, but also through discussions and disagreements. Conflict captivates people in politics and media but also in families and friendships. This can sprout violence, but also expose people’s true nature in how they act. Lord of the Flies by William Golding presents a complex portrayal of human nature and the relationship between savagery and civilization, suggesting that both have merits but that human nature has a tendency toward evil that social norms and institutions must contain.

While civility serves society and the collective as a whole, savagery brings benefits

As the boys grow anxious about the beast, which is presumably murdering boys on the island, Simon offers, “Maybe there is a beast... maybe it's only us,"(103-104). Simon is able to see their behavior, and call it out as beastly acts. Simon’s ability to recognize their faults is imperative in changing their behavior, but instead, they dismiss him. The group's inability to condemn themselves only further their fall into evil, and force them to act worse towards one another. Later, when the boys hold a celebration of the pig's death, they chant and form a circle to rejoice. "The desire to squeeze and hurt was over-mastering," (137) says Ralph, who is a calm and sane individual. Even Ralph, a social leader, feels the longing for violence when people accept savagery around him. Even though he appears rational, he must conceal his true passion for violence, just like everyone else. The inclination to evil is within everybody, and even calm individuals such as Ralph crave to give in to their natural tendencies. Humans' predisposition for wickedness and violence causes their fear of the beast and their love of savagery to

As Ralph says early in the novel, “We've got to have rules and obey them. After all, we're not savages," (42). Ralph is aware of the necessity for them to remain together and avoid succumbing to their savagery. Establishing an agreed set of rules is one approach to achieving this. They can provide people with a sense of order, and regulate how they treat each other, which can make them more amicable. Rules are also crucial because they suppress human beings' inclinations for violence and keep them from acting on their urges. As society begins to dwindle, and people give in to savagery, Piggy raises the question, "Which is better—to have laws and agree, or to hunt and kill?" (Golding 180). Piggy tries to convey the value and benefits of society as he witnesses everyone around him leaving it. Society is necessary for people to live and work together, yet people are not always willing to follow rules and eventually become intolerant. Such intolerance breeds contempt, which drives individuals to reject society and results in situations like these. Without society, the boys will become more violent and lose all control, which will lead to unnecessary deaths, avoidable with proper civilization. Because humans are inherently chaotic, people need to use civilization is to keep them under control and