What Is The Descent Into Savagery In Lord Of The Flies

What happens when there are no laws or rules to enforce humans? William Golding paints a chilling portrait of this scenario in “Lord of the Flies”, as a group of boys betray each other and their inner evil is unleashed upon the island. Human nature is often rampant without the presence of civilized order and rules. In "Lord of the Flies”, William Golding suggests that humans have the potential for violence, when there is an absence of laws or lawful enforcement. The descent into savagery highlights the disturbing truth about human nature evidenced by the boys’ descent into savagery, the use of power to dominate others, and unpacking the symbolism of the beast.

The boys descend into savagery as Ralph’s leadership starts to plummet. Firstly,

The character of Jack is a prominent example of how some characters use power to dominate others, which leads to his eventual descent into savagery and tyranny. Jack has started to rebel against the rules that Ralph has set because desires power and control over the other boys. Jack states, "Bollocks to the rules! We're strong―we hunt! If there's a beast, we'll hunt it down! We'll close in and beat and beat and beat―!” (Golding 91). Here, Jack is expressing his desire to break away from the rules of society and to assert his dominance through violence. On the other hand, Roger is another character whose sadistic behaviour is fueled by other’s pain. One day, while the boys are at the beach, Roger and Maurice knock the littluns sandcastles down. Roger’s actions show that he enjoys the feeling of superiority that comes with wielding power over others. His use of power to dominate others is evidenced by this scene in the novel: “Roger gathered a handful of stones and began to throw them. Yet there was a space round Henry, perhaps six yards in diameter, into which he dare not throw. Here, invisible yet strong, was the taboo of the old life. Round the squatting child was the protection of parents and school and policemen and the law” (Golding 62). In this quote, Roger is throwing stones at Henry, which he intentionally misses. The space around Henry is described as “invisible yet

When the boys become more savage, their perception of the beast becomes more terrifying. As the fear of the beast grows, their connection to civilization weakens and they become more aggressive to each other. As Golding writes, “The beast was harmless and horrible; and the news must reach the others as soon as possible” (Golding 106). Despite the fact that the beast is not a physical threat, the boys become increasingly violent as their fear of the beast grows. This highlights the primal instincts that exist within humans and how easily they can be triggered without laws. As the story progresses, the beast becomes a symbol of the boys’ savage impulses. Simon realizes that the true “beast” is not a physical creature, but rather the darkness that lies within the boys themselves: “Maybe there is a beast… maybe it’s only us.” (Golding 89). Overall, Simon’s quote highlights the importance of social order. Without laws or social norms, humans are capable of committing heinous acts, evidenced by the events that occur throughout the book. To sum up, the symbolism of the beast highlights the primal instincts that exist within humans, and how absence of laws can allow these instincts to take