It is often presumed the presence of order and law helps their corresponding society. Authority must be in the right hands to be beneficial, and its effects can vary. In the novel Lord of the Flies, civilization doesn’t always help the boys. Although no adults were actually present on the island, the expected rules of civilization were seen throughout the novel, morphing from positive to negative from beginning to end through the interchanging reigns of Ralph and Jack, implemented by anonymous authority. Adult society was seen in the original organization of the boys, the continuous concern for rescue, the identification between right and wrong, and the resulting havoc due to abandonment of law.
The boys originally acted in a manner viewed as proper and civilized. When first regaining consciousness after the plane crash, the first piece of business on Ralph’s …show more content…
At one point, a group of children are playing in the sand when Roger comes from the forest and begins to disrupt their peace. He begins to throw rocks at them, but he aims to miss as “Roger's arm was conditioned by a civilization that knew nothing of him and was in ruins” (62), referring to their previous society. Although wishing to cause havoc, Roger follows the rules because the rules and their consequences are still planted in his brain. Farther into the novel, Simon is brutally killed by the boys, but the next day, is deemed as an accident by some of the boys. Ralph is so influenced by the rules and his morals, he is able to identify between right and wrong and says “That was murder.” (156). He was able to recognize his mistakes, as he was conditioned to have morals and values. Although it may not last long, the boys act in a manner acceptable at home. By the end of the story, the boys have realized there is no one to stop them from breaking the rules and acting wild, throwing their values out of the