Savagery versus Humanity Is human nature savage? The novel “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding expresses the general theme and conflict of savagery vs. humanity. Throughout the novel, the characters display and represent the conflict between being savage and keeping their humanity. Golding shows how society can change and influence a person's actions and their ability to be savage. Based upon the boys actions in the novel such as, killing one another, sexual assault and abuse, and their animalistic behaviors, shows that savagery exists within all human beings. The most obvious reason to why the boys seem savage are the murders. The boys begin on the island well-behaved and innocent. As the novel progresses the littluns and biguns become bloodthirsty hunters which lead them onto murdering each other. This shows their loss of innocence and their own humanity. The start of the murders occurs when Simon, the Christ-Figure, is brutally attacked and eaten by the other boys. He was killed on a dark, gloomy …show more content…
Jack and his hunters paint their faces to go hunt like that of a tribe and come back with pig's blood all over their faces. This is showcased as crazy and acting animalistic. Their behavior resembles the behavior much like a pig. The quote, “Jack began to dance and his laughter became a bloodthirsty snarling” shows how the boys actions, as they continue on this island, become more and more animalistic.
In conclusion, The Lord of the Flies by William Golding is a novel in which the theme of savagery versus humanity is shown. Based upon the boys actions in the novel such as, killing one another, sexual assault and abuse, and their animalistic behaviors, shows that savagery exists within all human beings. Through the boy's actions, Golding shows the reader that anyone can lose their humanity. The boys own innocence goes away along with their sense of morality throughout the entire