Evil is well hidden within every human’s genetic make-up since birth; this inherent trait is revealed under certain circumstances regardless of age, class or occupation. William Golding exhibits this ideology in the novel, Lord of the Flies, using the characters and setting as a sample of the real world. Within the first few chapters of the novel, Golding instills a barbaric nature in a select few of the characters; near the end of the novel, all of the characters demonstrate this trait. Throughout the text, references to biblical figures show the progressive rise of evil. Additionally, the murder of Simon symbolizes the fall of all good (righteousness) on the island. In Lord of the Flies, Golding demonstrates that all humans, when stripped
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Golding proves that all good must fall under certain circumstances using biblical allusions. Each of the characters are a representation of either good or evil; in the earlier chapters, Jack is shown as an evil character whereas Piggy, Simon and Ralph are shown as the good. As the novel progresses, Piggy and Ralph transition into evil characters. The major allusion to the Bible is shown with the Lord of the Flies or the boar head on the stick – the Lord of the Flies is a character from the Holy Bible, representing Beelzebub or ‘The Prince of Demons’. “He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils. (King James Version 2193)” The boar head on the stick represents the metaphorical prince of the boys, turning them into devils one by one. The biblical allusion proves that humans are inherently evil when the two most ethical characters, Piggy and Ralph, resort to violence when faced against their fear of the beast. “That’s right. We was on the outside. We never done nothing, we never seen nothing. (Golding 226) Piggy attempts to justify the death of Simon by comforting that it was inevitable which shows the lack of remorse. Biblical references throughout the novel directly correlate to the struggle between good and evil on the
Golding proves that all good must fall under certain circumstances using biblical allusions. Each of the characters are a representation of either good or evil; in the earlier chapters, Jack is shown as an evil character whereas Piggy, Simon and Ralph are shown as the good. As the novel progresses, Piggy and Ralph transition into evil characters. The major allusion to the Bible is shown with the Lord of the Flies or the boar head on the stick – the Lord of the Flies is a character from the Holy Bible, representing Beelzebub or ‘The Prince of Demons’. “He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils. (King James Version 2193)” The boar head on the stick represents the metaphorical prince of the boys, turning them into devils one by one. The biblical allusion proves that humans are inherently evil when the two most ethical characters, Piggy and Ralph, resort to violence when faced against their fear of the beast. “That’s right. We was on the outside. We never done nothing, we never seen nothing. (Golding 226) Piggy attempts to justify the death of Simon by comforting that it was inevitable which shows the lack of remorse. Biblical references throughout the novel directly correlate to the struggle between good and evil on the