State Of Nature In William Golding's Lord Of The Flies

Different philosophers have different views on state of nature. State of nature is a pre-social condition in which man exists/existed in the absence of society. Jean-Jacques Rousseau believes the State of Nature is a wonderful, rich environment for early humans living solitary peaceful lives. He once said, “Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains.” On the other hand, Thomas Hobbes, English philosophers, believes, “Life in the state of nature is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” Though William Golding introduce an idea of good in human nature at the few front chapters, ultimately, he illustrates a pessimistic view of human nature that human is inherently evil through violence existed in Lord of the Flies. Furthermore, from

Paul Crawford, a professor of health humanities in the School of Nursing, Midwifery, and Physiotherapy at the University of Nottingham, states, “Golding’s harrowing experiences during World War II inspired him to write of the capacity for racial violence in society.” Therefore, the setting is based on evil human nature. Like the conflict between Jewish and Nazi, the conflict can be shown also in Lord of the Flies: Piggy and the group of boys. The name, “Piggy”, does not merely symbolizes obesity. It implies the lower-class Piggy who is always on the periphery of the group of schoolboys, always mocked, never quite belongings. The pig hunting foreshadows the link between the pig symbol and the extermination of those considered alien or outsiders. ““You’re always scared. Yah-Fatty!” “I got the conch,” said Piggy bleakly. He turned to Ralph. “I got the conch, ain’t I Ralph?” Unwillingly Ralph turned away from the splendid, awful sight.” (Golding, p.36) The group of boys were looking at Piggy as if he is the worm. In addition, the conflict between littluns and bigguns portrays a hierarchy violence. ““Use a littlun,” said Jack, and everybody laughed.” (Golding, p.102) At the moment when the boys lost the sense of morality and enjoying hurting and giving pain to others, Jack said there need to be someone to pretend like a pig, and that the bigguns can use the littluns in the next “game”. Jack’s thought reveals that bigguns belittle littluns and take advantages of them to fulfill their desire. Although the boys do not carry out a plan to use the littluns, the fact that boys find it exciting rather than horrifying demonstrates human impulse towards