Savagery In Lord Of The Flies Rhetorical Analysis

“Mankind must put an end to war before war puts an end to mankind” (John F. Kennedy) JFK hints at how if mankind doesn’t get rid of the evil that is war, that evil will instead get rid of mankind. In this novel, Lord of the Flies by William Golding, the author uses various themes and allegorical elements to show the underlying darkness and savageness that every man is capable of. In the book, a plane full of British kids crash and are left stranded on an island where they must survive, till they are rescued. As the story progresses, the schoolkids start to lose sight of their old morals and boundaries. Soon the boys start to all show the savagery that has been in them, leading the boys further and further away from their old lives and civilization.

During a meeting in Chapter 5, the boys consider the question of the Beast. They argue over where the beast comes from, what it is, and what it can do. While all the boys are bickering, Simon grabs the conch and says, “”What I mean is… maybe it’s only us.” (Golding 126) Simon is proposing something that the others boys have never thought about, that perhaps the beast is only themselves. Although the boys laugh at his suggestion, this proves Golding’s point that innate human evil and savagery exists. Simon is furthering his thinking and sees the Beast as a component of human nature instead of an external force, revealing the evil that is throbbing inside the boys. Similarly in Chapter 8, Simon has a vision in the glade and is faced with the Lord of the Flies. The Lord of the Flies says to Simon, ““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!... You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you? Close, close, close! I’m the reason why it’s a no go? Why things are what they are?”” (Golding 206) These words confirm Simon’s past speculation about the Beast being inside the boys, the Lord of the Flies identifies itself and acknowledges that it exists within all human beings “You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you?”. Looking at the tone of the Lord of Flies, it is seen that the boys have also been using this

Golding displays the conflict between civilization and savagery through the conflict between Ralph, the protagonist; and Jack, the antagonist. Golding shows the hidden evil through Simon’s encounter with the Lord of the Flies and how the Lord of the Flies states that it is impossible to escape him, saying that there will always be hidden evil inside everyone. Also Golding expresses the boys civilized manners and ascend to savagery through the boys being well mannered to being mannered in Roger “purposely” missing the rocks. Lastly, Golding shows that even the most civilized can not escape their inner evilness. Golding uses the book to display how every human being has an inner Beast, although some might see the book as being just about boys being stranded on an