Key Topics in Lord of the Flies
The story occurs during World War II after an airplane full of British boys crashes on an island in the South Pacific.
The Lord of the Flies is a great book that shows the true nature of humans. It tells us how war and violence can have serious consequences and how humanity has slowly deteriorated over time due to this violent nature.
Lord of the Flies: Main Topics
The Lord of the Flies is a famous novel about a group of young boys abandoned on an island who must learn to survive on their own. It explores what happens when society, or order, is removed from people, and they revert to primal instincts.
Good and evil can be defined as moral values, but they are also abstract concepts related to human nature. In Lord of the Flies, Golding uses this idea in two ways: he shows that good and evil are not black-and-white concepts; they’re more like shades of gray. He also illustrates how the boys see themselves as good because they don’t want to kill each other or commit any crimes; in their eyes, that makes them morally superior to their classmates at home who aren’t stranded on an island with no rules or laws governing them.
The Lord of the Flies theme of innate human evil is one of the most important ideas in Lord of the Flies. William Golding’s view on this topic can be summed up in his statement: “I think we’re all capable of both things, really. We’re capable of great goodness and great evil, but it depends on whether or not you’ve got a guiding principle inside you which says “do what’s right,” do what’s just” (Golding).
He believes that human beings have both good and evil within themselves; however, it does not mean that they are mutually exclusive from each other. The main idea behind this statement is that there are no absolute values or true principles in human nature; therefore, humans should use their judgment when making decisions regarding their actions or behavior.
This viewpoint shows how Golding views good and evil as a part of human nature rather than an external force controlling our lives; therefore, everything depends on how we decide to act upon these feelings or suppress them.
Humankind’s Impact on Nature
The island is a metaphor for humankind’s impact on nature. It is a microcosm of the world where people are unrestrained to do what they want. The island is not just an isolated place; it also represents our planet as a whole.
The fact that this desire for domination exists within us speaks volumes about our negative relationship with non-human life forms; we are constantly trying to exert control over places and things that do not belong specifically to us (e.g., animals). But, unfortunately, in doing so, we are destroying them instead of building upon them; if left unchecked, humanity will continue destroying everything around itself until there isn’t much left except space devoid of life as we know it today.
Confrontation of civilization and savagery
The book “Lord of the Flies” has a strong theme of civilization vs. savagery. Jack and Ralph represent this theme because they are both trying to establish themselves as leaders and have different views on moving forward with their lives. The other characters in the book also fit into this theme because they show signs of being either civilized or primitive, depending on how they react to events throughout the story.
The theme of civilization and savagery is represented throughout all the characters in the book. The plot, events, setting, and character development all work together to show how each character goes through this struggle between whether they should be civilized or savage.
When Ralph tells them they can have it after they get their own going, Jack starts burning grass around their fire so that it will go out before they even get started. It shows how willing he is to do whatever it takes to survive instead of waiting for higher-up permission or following rules set by society.
Later in the book, Ralph leaves him alone on his island with only coconuts and pigs. Jack becomes more ruthless than ever before because he knows no one will come to help them unless they plan an escape themselves, which means using force if necessary.
The major themes of civilization and savagery are present throughout the book and are symbolized by Jack and Ralph and everything that occurs within the story. The message is clear: it’s important to use your common sense, avoid conflict, stay calm and rational, keep an open mind, listen to others’ opinions, work together toward a goal, and celebrate diversity (all things that Jack doesn’t do).
True Nature of the Mankind
In Lord of the Flies, Golding studies the human psyche through the symbolism and allegory of a group of boys stuck on an island. He creates a microcosm for society, where everything is stripped away except for the basic instinctual forces that drive us as humans. This novel shows how even in an ideal world where everyone follows the rules and laws, it is impossible to escape our natures and become something more than what we are born as. But here, laws create chaos.
Lord of the Flies and Its Main Characters
The theme of innocence versus experience is a major one in Lord of the Flies. Ralph, Piggy, and Jack embody it; these three characters represent three different types of expertise: Ralph’s natural leadership, Piggy’s knowledge of civilized society, and Jack’s animalistic instinct.
These characters are all very dynamic and intriguing. They each have their story arc, which makes them interesting to read about. Their different personalities show what kind of human beings they are by showing how they react in different situations and start to act violently.
Main Protagonist: Ralph
Ralph is a leader and a good friend. He cares about others. Ralph is also very trustworthy because he keeps his word. Ralph, who has been assigned as ‘chief’ of the boys, wants to establish rules so they can survive on the island without adult supervision. At first, he leads by example but later adopts a more authoritarian style when Jack becomes chief of another tribe nearby.
Ralph cares about his friends and ensures they have enough food and water, even though this means sharing some of his supplies with them. The boys respect him because he does not allow himself or others to be bullied by Jack’s tribe, although at times, he is forced into making difficult decisions for all their good (such as deciding whether or not they should kill Simon).
A charismatic, attractive figure, Ralph is primarily responsible for adult supervision and productive leadership. At first, he acts as a mentor to Jack and works with him to create a society. Finally, Ralph becomes increasingly isolated and powerless as the boys descend into savagery and chaos.
Brains of the Group: Piggy
Piggy is the smartest one. He is the only one who can employ the conch effectively, and he’s also the only one who understands how to keep order among the boys. So, when Ralph gives up his role as leader, Piggy steps in to take over.
Piggy can read! It’s a major plot point when Ralph finds out that he can’t read and gets help from Piggy so that he can learn too. As an uneducated person himself, Ralph wants everyone else to be able to read as well. That’s why many wanted to kill Piggy.
Leader of Choirboys: Jack
The plot shows Jack’s attempt to turn his tribe into savages by keeping them alive while they’re stranded on the island without any adults to tell them what to do with their lives. In addition, this shows how he wants everyone on the island to become like him so they can fight back against Ralph and his group, who want everyone else on the island to become civilized again.
Jack can be considered a symbol of savagery because of his character development and the events in the book. At the beginning of the book, Jack is shown to be a very savage character. He has no respect for authority and will do whatever it takes to get what he wants. He is also willing to take risks that most human beings would not dare take. For example, when Ralph and Piggy are trying to make their fire, they are interrupted by some boys who want the fire for themselves. Jack believes hunting and killing Ralph is the only way to rule everyone.
Visionary of the Group: Simon
You may have noticed that we still need to talk about Simon, the boy we meet in the first chapter. He’s a thoughtful and intelligent boy who, unlike Ralph and Jack, sees the importance of keeping rules in place. So, for example, when he is given a stick with which to light a fire on the beach (one of his many important tasks), he asks if there are any religious reasons for lighting it. And when no one gives him an answer, he says that it’s still better to show respect for God than not.
You’ll remember this later when you read about only Simon being killed by the Beast — the very thing that was supposed to represent evil was trying to protect its home from intruders!
Secretive Boy: Roger
While not exactly evil, Roger is mean-spirited and manipulative. Despite being more civilized than any other character in this book, he makes no qualms about bullying other people for personal gain or entertainment. He does this especially with Piggy because he doesn’t see him as a threat — Piggy’s size means that he can’t go up against Roger physically (which also implies that some of his actions are motivated by jealousy).
Symbol of the Beast
The Beast is a symbol of humankind’s destructive nature. The boys fear The Beast, but they are also fascinated with it. This correlation between the two demonstrates their fear of the unknown and the unknown’s ability to evoke fear in those who face it. As Ralph says: “We have to kill something…to prove ourselves.” In other words, when faced with something completely new or foreign, people tend to react by attacking it. They feel the urge to conquer this thing to prove their strength and mastery over it. But they don’t realize that their attempt at domination only furthers humankind’s negative impact on nature.
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