ipl-logo

Why Is Lord Of The Flies Naturally Evil

575 Words3 Pages

Today, society is curbing humanity’s natural instincts towards evil. However, the innate nature of humans is up to question. Golding’s novel Lord of the Flies grapples with his question. Lord of the Flies suggests that humanity is naturally evil, an inaccurate representation of humans because humans are compassionate and reasonable. Golding presents humans as naturally evil, using Roger’s fierce desire to harm life. For example, Roger didn’t just kill the sow when hunting: Roger “push[ed] [the spear] till he was leaning with his whole wait” which turned the terrified squealing into “a high-pitched scream” (Golding 135). Golding highlights the brutality of humans by using Roger’s desire to not only kill the pig, but to harm the pig as much as possible. However, this is not an accurate reflection, because compassion also exists in this microcosm. For example, Simon would “[find for the littluns] the fruit they could not reach [and give them] the choicest fruit up in the foliage” to ensure that the littluns don’t eat unripe fruit and get sick as a result (Golding 56). Simon proves that humanity also has good by …show more content…

When Jack refused to give Piggy some meat, Simon “shoved his piece of meat over the rocks to Piggy” (Golding 74). Compassion drives Simon to give up his meat so that Piggy can have his portion of meat, which shows that humanity is naturally good due to compassion. Lee also highlights the good of humanity by using compassion in To Kill A Mockingbird. After escorting Boo Radley home, Scout reflects that “standing on the Radley porch was enough” to understand Boo and that she “never saw him again” (Lee 320-321). Lee illustrates humanity’s compassion by using Scout’s understanding of Boo Radley’s trials and decisions and Scout respecting Boo Radley’s privacy from that point onwards, regardless of rumors about Boo. This shows that humans have the capability to be good and respect

Show More
Related

Simon Lord Of The Flies Character Analysis Essay

940 Words | 4 Pages

Simon is a character who doesn't say much, but when he does speak, it is to reveal some sort of truth and his words are sometimes prophetic. Often times, Simon is at a loss for words or has a lack of confidence when he wants to speak to a large group of his peers: "Simon became inarticulate in his effort to express mankind's essential illness" (89). In this line, Simon is trying to say that the beast is something dark within the boys themselves, which is "mankind's essential illness", or evil nature. He is the

Read More

How Does Golding Present The Evil In Lord Of The Flies

830 Words | 4 Pages

You know perfectly well you’ll only meet me down there—so don’t try to escape!’” (Golding 143), he understands that there is no way he can avoid his vices. Simon’s direct discussion with his evil correlates to the identical evil found in all of the

Read More

How Does Atticus Show Compassion In To Kill A Mockingbird

1212 Words | 5 Pages

Arthur Schopenhauer once said, “Compassion is the basis of all morality”. This quote is fitting to the theme of the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee. The narrative goes in depth into the brutal, harsh town that is Maycomb County. We are able to follow a family that does not comply with the prejudice ways of the rest of the town, and instead, show compassion and empathy for those around them. These actions of compassion, allow the Finches to make decisions that they know are morally right, even if everyone is telling them otherwise.

Read More

To Kill A Mockingbird Empathy Quotes

929 Words | 4 Pages

In Harper Lee's novel “To Kill a Mockingbird,” empathy is used as the central theme of the book that resounds throughout the passage itself. Taking a closer look at empathy in the characters of Atticus Finch, Scout, and Boo Radley, Lee explores the magnitude of understanding and compassion in the eyes of prejudice and injustice within the novel, which ultimately ties in to the characters development later on in the story. Empathy is shown as a metamorphic force that triggers humans to see beyond societal norms and personal biases of one another, further leading to a deeper connection between characters. This essay will dive into how empathy is displayed in the novel, supported by textual evidence and quoted passages. The underlying theme of

Read More

Examples Of Human Evilness In Lord Of The Flies

910 Words | 4 Pages

Golding expresses that most humans are evil through the actions of Jack, Roger, and the treatment of Piggy.

Read More

Simon Lord Of The Flies Character Analysis

983 Words | 4 Pages

Simon is smart enough to know the consequences of his actions, but sees injustice occurring, and because of his morals, does not let fear overpower what he knows is the right thing to do. He is willing to risk his own privileges because he see’s the dignity in another being taken away. Prior to arriving on the island, the lessons that Simon has learned from society, is something he retains even when immersed in the society on the island. In addition, Simon also looks after and helps the littluns on the island. During the day while everyone is out playing or hunting, Simon comes across some of the littluns gathering food, “Then, amid the roar of bees in the afternoon sunlight, Simon found for them the fruit they could not reach, pulled off the

Read More

Is Lord Of The Flies Inherently Evil Essay

559 Words | 3 Pages

In Lord of the Flies, William Golding states that people are inherently evil. This correctly displays humans’s instinctive behavior because they’re naturally selfish and prejudiced. This can be proven using the books Animal Farm and To Kill a Mockingbird. In Lord of the Flies, Golding presents a group of boys who have been stranded on an island without adults.

Read More

Human Nature In Lord Of The Flies, By William Golding

804 Words | 4 Pages

For three hundred years humans have been having the same debate on human nature. Many scientists have tried to prove their theories but there is no concrete evidence, and no one can come to a solid unanimous consensus. But in 1954 a book was written about a group of boys that crash landed on an island with no adult supervision and it is through this book that we see an example of the inherent nature of humans. Throughout the novel, Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, he explains his view on human nature and how it is inherently malicious and self-serving; this stance is undoubtedly correct. This idea is supported by the books To Kill a Mockingbird, and Animal Farm, and through the events of the Holocaust.

Read More

Oppressive And Murderous In Lord Of The Flies By William Golding

755 Words | 4 Pages

Human Nature: Oppressive and Murderous. Imagine a world where civilization crumbles and the true nature of humanity is laid bare. In William Golding’s novel, Lord of the Flies, this harrowing scenario unfolds and reveals the inherent darkness that resides within us all. Through their descent into savagery on a deserted island, Golding offers a haunting portrayal of human nature, devoid of the constraints of civilization. Golding suggests that human nature is more evil than good; this is accurate as humans are oppressive and murderous, indicated through the real world and in literature.

Read More

Lord Of The Flies Good Vs Evil

1201 Words | 5 Pages

Losing such human traits animalizes them, bringing them closer to the animalistic evil the beast embodies. Additionally, an addiction to the thrill of violence causes Roger to dehumanize Ralph and think of him as the pigs he hunts. As Ralph tries to rescue Samneric he is warned that, “Roger sharpened a stick on both ends” (190) and wants to mount Ralph’s head on it like a pig. Roger descends into madness as he considers Ralph to be more prey than human. Roger gets addicted to the violent hunts and dehumanizes Ralph to the pigs he hunts.

Read More

Are We Naturally Good Or Evil In Lord Of The Flies

2027 Words | 9 Pages

As demonstrated by the influence of nationality and examples seen in Lord of the Flies. The question of whether humans are inherently good or evil can never truly be answered; however, why choose to believe that evil triumphs good? Negativity can be contagious and one negative thought can spread to others like wildfire. Beliefs that humans come naturally evil promote self-hate and justification of violence against other people. Serial killers should not be forgiven by the principle that their nature destinies them to commit evil.

Read More

Evil In Lord Of The Flies

1233 Words | 5 Pages

Simon was a character throughout the novel who showed kindness and he never gave up hope. The first act of kindness Simon perform was when he helped the littluns, “Simon found for them the fruit they could not reach, pulled off the choicest from up in the foliage, passed them back down to the endless, outstretched hands. When he had satisfied them he paused and looked round. The littluns watched him inscrutably over double handfuls of ripe fruit.” (Golding 56).

Read More

Human Rationality In Lord Of The Flies Essay

1583 Words | 7 Pages

Human nature is one of the world’s most interesting and complex studies. We, as humans, study our own behavior. It is assumed that we should know ourselves best, but that is not completely true. Human nature can be seen as good or bad, and in William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, Golding uses characters to show the monstrous, destructive beasts people can be. Lord of the Flies, is about a group of boys who land on an island after attempting to flee their country to escape the dangers of a nuclear war.

Read More

Childhood In To Kill A Mockingbird

744 Words | 3 Pages

A person’s moral compass is shifted with each memory gained in life. Harper Lee’s story, To Kill a Mockingbird, revolves around two impressionable growing children, Scout, and Jem Finch. Over the course of two summers, the Finch children learn how to dictate their judgment over what is right and what is wrong. Living their childhood in the small town of 1930s Maycomb, Alabama, they experience moments that change their perception of life forever. Family dynamics, peer interactions, and hometown customs influence their ability to empathize with others.

Read More

Is Man Inherently Evil In Lord Of The Flies

658 Words | 3 Pages

Golding portrays mans evil through the boys' need to undermine others. In the beginning of the book Jack becomes obsessed with hunting the wild pigs that live on the island. “Jack was bent double. He was down like a sprinter, his nose only a few inches from the humid earth … Then dog-like, uncomfortably on all fours yet unheeding his discomfort,

Read More

More about Why Is Lord Of The Flies Naturally Evil

Open Document