Sexist, or What Lord of the Flies Called for?
There is something unusual about Lord of the Flies that is glaringly obvious. Why are there no girls? Was this simply due to the author’s choice? Would throwing girls into the mix make a difference? Golding did not include females into the story because of the stereotypes and gender roles that had a very strong presence during the time of writing the story. Lord of the Flies was published in 1954, a time where it was still uncommon to see women in pants. During the 1950’s people’s views generally were that women should stay home in the kitchen, cleaning, and caring for the children. It was thought that women were quiet, gentle, and soft hearted. If Golding were to include girls that became savages like the boys, it would take much longer for the group’s decline into animalistic tendencies.
If Golding had chosen to portray girls in their typical stereotypes, it would have drawn away from the story. During the 1950’s, the time in which the …show more content…
For instance, if girls had been on the island with the boys, would everyone undressed as they did? The general rule that you don’t show your naked body to others is especially true for the opposite genders, so it would not have happened as quickly- if at all. The moment where the boys take their clothes off is the beginning of the group reverting into animalistic tendencies. Without that point, it would take slightly longer for the group to begin their decline.
Golding sets the entourage of boys on the path of cruelty to one another and savage behaviour. Instead, females are seen as nurturing and loving. Including girls would create stark contrast between how boys and girls act. These two groups being polar opposites would draw away from Golding’s main point. Instead, the reader’s attention would be pulled to how different the two groups really were, rather than that evil lies within all of
There is something unusual about Lord of the Flies that is glaringly obvious. Why are there no girls? Was this simply due to the author’s choice? Would throwing girls into the mix make a difference? Golding did not include females into the story because of the stereotypes and gender roles that had a very strong presence during the time of writing the story. Lord of the Flies was published in 1954, a time where it was still uncommon to see women in pants. During the 1950’s people’s views generally were that women should stay home in the kitchen, cleaning, and caring for the children. It was thought that women were quiet, gentle, and soft hearted. If Golding were to include girls that became savages like the boys, it would take much longer for the group’s decline into animalistic tendencies.
If Golding had chosen to portray girls in their typical stereotypes, it would have drawn away from the story. During the 1950’s, the time in which the …show more content…
For instance, if girls had been on the island with the boys, would everyone undressed as they did? The general rule that you don’t show your naked body to others is especially true for the opposite genders, so it would not have happened as quickly- if at all. The moment where the boys take their clothes off is the beginning of the group reverting into animalistic tendencies. Without that point, it would take slightly longer for the group to begin their decline.
Golding sets the entourage of boys on the path of cruelty to one another and savage behaviour. Instead, females are seen as nurturing and loving. Including girls would create stark contrast between how boys and girls act. These two groups being polar opposites would draw away from Golding’s main point. Instead, the reader’s attention would be pulled to how different the two groups really were, rather than that evil lies within all of