Lord of the Flies Analized
When away from civilization, man's facade of civilized behavior falls away. This thought is express greatly in William Golding, Lord of the Flies. Goldings uses characters and events to prove this belief. He uses the protagonist, Ralph, as the example of how no matter how you try the instinctual savagery of humans will surface. The antagonist, Jack, is the example of the change. His metamorphosis from a civilized, optimistic British boy to a bloodthirsty savage leader is one that Golding tracks conscientiously. Then a proof of the true savagery of human instinct, he illustrates the doings of Jacks tribe. Using "William Golding", by Samuel Hynes, and " The Novel as a Moral Allegory" by P.H. Newby, the change of the boys trapped on a deserted island will be clear. Ralph's attempt at a civilization and his failure is proof that humans will be savages if not restricted. Ralph and the reader have a connection that is important to understand. "(Ralph) provides the most consistent point of view, because he most nearly speaks for us (the reader)" (Hynes, pg. 173) Because Ralph is the reader's thoughts in the story, Golding elucidates that no amount of logical thinking can stop this metamorphosis.
The tribe is final stage in Golding's belief that humans are instinctively savage. The boys themselves no longer consider themselves opinionated individuals. " (Face) painting the boys he (Jack) turns them into a anonymous mob of murderous savages" (Hynes, pg. 173) By face painting they loose their willingness to speak for themselves which Ralph's democracy gave the boys. The boys retrogress into primitive, animal-like, behavior deepens as the boy chant. "Kill the pig! Cut its throat! Spill its blood!" (Newby, pg. 257) The boys now act, look, and sound like murderous, single-minded savages. They represent all the evil on the island. The tribe is the surfacing of humans' savage nature. "Residual savagery lies barely under the surface and is controlled only under the right circumstances." (Newby, pg. 257) So Golding's final stage is complete, an inhuman savagery in a human. From logical beginnings to savage endings Lord of the Flies is a model of humans hidden malevolence. When away from civilization, man's facade of civilized behavior falls away. Even with Ralph's attempt, Jack and his followers form a tribe that is the true meaning of wild. Is this possible? Is civilization only skin deep? We are in a world where media, parents, and r
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 839
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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