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Superego In Lord Of The Flies

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“The mind is like an iceberg, it floats with one-seventh of its bulk above the water” (Freud). The Freudian theory claims that the mind has three main attributes: the id, the ego, and the superego. Freud states that the id is the mind’s most primitive trait because it acts only to please itself; the superego, on the contrary, is the conscience that exists strictly by morals. The ego, or the tip of the iceberg, is the balance between the superego and the id; it takes into consideration both other attributes and finds a compromise to act upon. In Lord of the Flies, William Golding personifies the three traits of the Freudian theory as different characters to emphasize the prevalence of good and evil.
Two aspects of the Freudian Theory are the id—the state of mind that acts on instinct—and the superego—the state of mind that acts as one’s conscience. In Lord of the Flies, Roger can clearly represent the id, whereas Simon acts as the superego of the group. Acting on one’s superego can easily be …show more content…

Adversely to Ralph, he did not brush off the beast, saying it was a fake. Instead, Jack declares to hunt it down and kill it. By doing so, he gains the trust of the majority of the group. Trust turns into control, and soon, Jack gains the title of chief. Who better fits the role of helping control the littluns than the sadist himself? On page forty-one, Roger is seen throwing rocks around Henry, but now, in a position with less restrictions, he can commit act of violence under Jack. When Jack is finally in full control, he realizes that he needs to get rid of Ralph to maintain his power. This concept is dark, however, when “‘Roger sharpened a stick at both ends (171)’”, Ralph’s situation worsened. In order to keep his society balanced, Jack does what he thinks is right, with Roger by his side, supporting him. Unlike the superego, the ego that Jack has become is bound to the

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