In "Lord of the Flies", Golding suggests that once man is freed from social conditioning and obligation, the intrinsic sense of evil will be revealed in him. He destroys the optimistic view of human nature by showing how even the most innocent of all - children can deteriorate into primitive savages once freed from the trappings of society.

This view, that man is capable of gross wickedness, is central to the whole novel. It is revealed through Simon's conversation with the imaginary Lord of the Flies when he realises that the real beast is one that exists in all the boys. However, Golding also shows that if man is willing to recognise the evil potential in his nature, he will able to curb his own evil instincts.

It is important to note how much the boys manage to achieve before their inner fears destroy their sense of responsibility and reason, that is, before the boys finally succumb to savagery and violence. They discover fire, they build shelters (albeit prone

Despite the fact that Ralph failed to carry out his mission on the island, his acknowledgement of the "darkness of man's heart" and the recognition of the wisdom and friendship of Piggy indicates Ralph's personal growth. From his experiences, Ralph gains maturity, wisdom and comprehension. Golding shows that there is some hope for the future in the new knowledge that Ralph has required - he can understand the conflict of good and evil, ideal and real that exists in man.

Like Piggy, Simon provides insights of wisdom and revelation. He is the one who realises that the beast which exists on the island is "only us (the boys)". He recognises that the only way for the boys to save themselves is to confront their fear and that "mankind's essential illness" is "ancient, (and) inescapable".

Simon is a true friend and a constant source of moral support to Ralph - by encouraging him to "go on being Chief". He reveals his capacity for intuition when he assures Ralph that he will "get back all right".

Piggy's adult outlook is reflected in his belief in scientific logic. Life to him is purely "scientific" and as such, he says that there is no beast since reason and rationality cannot go hand in hand with superstitions and irrational fears. He wears a "martyred expression of a parent" and lectures the boys for acting like a "senseless...crowd of kids". As such, we see that Piggy's attitude is more matured and adult than the rest of the boys.

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Approximate Word count = 1283
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)