William Golding Lord Of The Flies Literary Analysis

Albert Einstein once said, “Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex...It takes a touch of genius -and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction.” As the author of the acclaimed novel, Lord of the Flies, William Golding inspires a new generation about the awareness of evil. His work serves as a timeless biblical allegory, interpreting a deeper meaning besides the literal sense. It is believed that its main characters were based on Golding’s students, who he taught at Bishop Wordsworth’s School in Salisbury, a religious school in England. Influenced by the biblical stories, William Golding explores the theme of biblical parallels through allusions of the setting and the duality of characters.

Golding develops the

Upon the arrival of the boys, the island stimulates a peaceful, yet haunting atmosphere. Golding describes the world as "the whole space was walled with dark, aromatic bushes, and was a bowl of heat and light...the deep sea...made an undertone less perceptible than the susurration of the boys’ blood (47)." This shows that there is darkness balancing with the light. In relation, it is just as the Garden of Eden is both beauty and subsistence, but stood in the center of the garden was the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, a secluded prohibited area. In the deep heart of the island, Simon’s hideaway acts as the Garden of Eden. Golding envisions the area with dark walls, aromatic bushes with bees traveling and singing birds flying in the honey sunlight (47). This shows that he isolates himself into a peaceful

He stands on another different planet compared to the other boys due to his deep concern about the beast inside of the boys. Golding writes that “Simon shook his head violently...I just think you’ll get back all right...and then they suddenly smiled at each other (111)." In the same way, Jesus pronounced that mankind itself is to be the most savage animal to walk the Earth. Both males are cast aside from the majority because of their beliefs and inferior to the chiefs. Simon is drawn into the same position as Jesus Christ during the Last Supper, foreshadowing Ralph’s rescue and his death. The morbid pig states as “Simon’s head was tilted up...You knew didn’t you? I’m part of you? Close, close, close! I’m the reason why it’s no go? Why things are what they are? (Golding 128)" Building up to this thrilling event, Simon unconsciously fasts and meditates in his hideaway, causing his fainting spells to manifest. In relation to Jesus’s encounter with Satan in the Garden of Gethsemane during the night of Judas's betrayal. Simon and the new-found news of the beast on the hill. Golding describes "it was crying out...about a body on the hill. At once the crowd...leapt on the beast...sound of tearing of teeth and claws (153).” This shows that Simon experienced a tragic death upon the other boys killing him. Like how Jesus had set out to spread the word of God and gets crucified, Simon endeavors to tell the news to the