William Golding's Lord Of The Flies: Setting Analysis

In the novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding, the setting plays an important role in the exposition of the novel. A group of boys are stranded on an uninhabited tropical island, the island contains a large jungle with a vast amount of food and water. The island weather is humid, but it tends to get cooler at night. The environment is unknown to the boys and they have to fight with the island to survive until they get rescued. Golding choose a perfect setting to help illustrate how a group of boys may or may not thrive without adult supervision. Throughout the story, the characters represent the philosophies of John Locke and Thomas Hobbes. John Locke proposed the idea that stated “people are basically good ”, Locke came up with many theories

While Piggy was preparing to tell Ralph his name he “lowered himself on the terrace and sat down”(Golding 10), and then uttered "I don't care what they call me so long as . . . so long as they don’t call me what they used to call me at school…They used to call me Piggy!” (Golding 11). Piggy has been made fun of and has had a lot of obstacles in his life in which humanity has thrown at him. Therefore Piggy’s life illustrates Thomas Hobbes theory that “mankind [is] inherently evil” (“H&L Overview”). The boys didn't know Piggy, but instead of getting to know him they judged him off his appearance and nickname, this represents the ideal that people are naturally evil. Throughout the story Piggy has demonstrated actions that represent Hobbes theories, Piggy has also been taken for granted and constantly bullied by the other boys, until now Piggy had enough courage and yelled “Stop it!.... D’you hear? [and] furiously drove the water into Ralph’s face” (Golding 147). Although Ralph continued to squirt water in Piggy's face it wasn’t the same as the first time, Piggy demonstrated strength, and Ralph finally took him seriously. This relates to Hobbes theory of “people are required a strong central authority” (“H&L Overview”). Meaning that because Ralph squirted Piggy 1st, Piggy had the right or authority to squirt back. Hobbes theory is a good example of the saying “You

. When the boys gathered together, Piggy held the conch and in a hurt voice said, “ I got the conch….. I got the right to speak” (Golding 44). Piggy's words illustrate John Locke’s idea that people have rights, For instance, in the Locke and Hobbes Overview “all people are equal and all people have natural rights”(“H&L Overview”). While Piggy held the conch, he was given no respect from the other boys, all he wanted was to be able to voice his opinion. Locke, like Piggy also believed in “a separation of powers in government so that no one entity has too much control over any of the society's institutions”(“H&L Overview”). From the beginning of the story Piggy has always thought that, the boys should come together and have equal voices so not just one leader who says something and it goes. Piggy's words also demonstrate Locke's ideas, The group of savages had just stole Piggy's glasses, he soon became infuriated. Piggy believed the conch would help demonstrate power towards Jack ,so he told the the remaining boys "I got the conch. I'm going to that Jack Merridew an' tell him, I am" (Golding 171).The conch used to provide law, order and power to anyone who held it, Piggy thought that by bringing it along, it would allow him to speak without being shut down. This expression from Piggy represents Locke's theory “all people are equal”(“H&L Overview”). Locke believed