Lord of the Flies: A Warning to Society Twentieth century British author William Golding once said, a “man produces evil as a bee produces honey.” Golding served in the Royal Navy during WWII and witnessed firsthand the atrocities committed by the Nazis. This experience influenced him to explore through his writing the evil inherent in mankind. Golding had also worked as a teacher for a group of unruly schoolboys who later served as the inspiration for the characters in his renowned novel, Lord of the Flies. In this novel, a group of ostensibly sophisticated English boys are stranded on an island and left to take care of themselves. Surprisingly, however, when freed from the limitations of society, the boys almost immediately release
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Roger is one of Jack’s choirboys who, upon meeting the rest of the boys, suggests that they “have a vote” (Golding 22) for chief. Later in the story, he and one of the other boys named Maurice see three of the littluns “kneeling in the sand” (Golding 60) building sandcastles. Roger “[leads] the way straight through the castles, kicking them over, burying the flowers, scattering the chosen stones” (Golding 60). After this occurrence, Henry, one of the littluns, walks away and Roger proceeds to follow him. He then begins throwing stones at Henry, but aims to miss, holding himself back from committing acts of wrongdoing. For Roger, the “taboo of the old life” (Golding 62) still clutches onto him. As the novel progresses, however, Roger, a once “furtive boy whom no one knew” (Golding 22) becomes a vicious, murderous savage, taking part in Simon’s murder without any hesitation. This is just the beginning for Roger. As Piggy tries to convince the hunters to stop acting like savages, Roger, “with a sense of delirious abandonment,” (Golding 180) releases a boulder onto Piggy, sending him into the “square red rock of the sea” (Golding 181). At this point in the story, Roger has completely lost his morality and becomes what Samneric describe as “a terror,” (Golding 189) implying that he is even worse than Jack. Roger exemplifies the worst of humanity, “ ...the lust for power over living things, the power to …show more content…
Ralph, “the boy with fair hair” (Golding 7), is the first character introduced in the novel. Shortly after, Piggy, “shorter than the fair boy and very fat” (Golding 7), appears, and the two begin talking about the plane crash. Ralph says that his father, a commander in the navy, will come to rescue them, but Piggy explains that nobody knows where they are, displaying his ability to think rationally. The boys then spot a conch lying in the ocean, and Piggy suggests they “use this to call the others” to “[h]ave a meeting” (Golding 16). Ralph blows the conch, creating a “deep, harsh note [that] boomed under the palms” (Golding 17), and, one by one, the other boys begin to appear. They decide to have an election and Ralph is appointed chief. His first directive as chief is to “make smoke on top of the mountain” (Golding 38), so they could be noticed by a ship passing the island. The boys use Piggy’s glasses to light the fire, and Jack is put in charge of keeping it alive. Meanwhile, Ralph is busy making shelters, symbolizing man’s inherent need to create a society, but he receives no help from the other boys, as “[t]hey’re off bathing, or eating, or playing” (Golding 50). Later in the story, Ralph and Piggy attend a feast around the fire led by Jack and his hunters. During this feast, they, for the first and only time, “[find] themselves eager to take a place
Roger is one of Jack’s choirboys who, upon meeting the rest of the boys, suggests that they “have a vote” (Golding 22) for chief. Later in the story, he and one of the other boys named Maurice see three of the littluns “kneeling in the sand” (Golding 60) building sandcastles. Roger “[leads] the way straight through the castles, kicking them over, burying the flowers, scattering the chosen stones” (Golding 60). After this occurrence, Henry, one of the littluns, walks away and Roger proceeds to follow him. He then begins throwing stones at Henry, but aims to miss, holding himself back from committing acts of wrongdoing. For Roger, the “taboo of the old life” (Golding 62) still clutches onto him. As the novel progresses, however, Roger, a once “furtive boy whom no one knew” (Golding 22) becomes a vicious, murderous savage, taking part in Simon’s murder without any hesitation. This is just the beginning for Roger. As Piggy tries to convince the hunters to stop acting like savages, Roger, “with a sense of delirious abandonment,” (Golding 180) releases a boulder onto Piggy, sending him into the “square red rock of the sea” (Golding 181). At this point in the story, Roger has completely lost his morality and becomes what Samneric describe as “a terror,” (Golding 189) implying that he is even worse than Jack. Roger exemplifies the worst of humanity, “ ...the lust for power over living things, the power to …show more content…
Ralph, “the boy with fair hair” (Golding 7), is the first character introduced in the novel. Shortly after, Piggy, “shorter than the fair boy and very fat” (Golding 7), appears, and the two begin talking about the plane crash. Ralph says that his father, a commander in the navy, will come to rescue them, but Piggy explains that nobody knows where they are, displaying his ability to think rationally. The boys then spot a conch lying in the ocean, and Piggy suggests they “use this to call the others” to “[h]ave a meeting” (Golding 16). Ralph blows the conch, creating a “deep, harsh note [that] boomed under the palms” (Golding 17), and, one by one, the other boys begin to appear. They decide to have an election and Ralph is appointed chief. His first directive as chief is to “make smoke on top of the mountain” (Golding 38), so they could be noticed by a ship passing the island. The boys use Piggy’s glasses to light the fire, and Jack is put in charge of keeping it alive. Meanwhile, Ralph is busy making shelters, symbolizing man’s inherent need to create a society, but he receives no help from the other boys, as “[t]hey’re off bathing, or eating, or playing” (Golding 50). Later in the story, Ralph and Piggy attend a feast around the fire led by Jack and his hunters. During this feast, they, for the first and only time, “[find] themselves eager to take a place