A main theme throughout the novel, “Lord of The Flies”, is how innocence is important during childhood. The boys who are abandoned on the island arrive with an abundance of innocence, however, at the end of the novel it it evident that their innocence is gone. This is perceptible through three different points: Ralph’s belief that people are good eventually diminishes, Jack’s violent obsession with hunting and murder of two of their own. Due to the circumstances, the stranded boys are forced to give up their innocence and become mature prematurely.
Jack Merridew’s obsession with hunting starts near the start of the novel. When Jack misses killing a pig, he becomes enraged and refuses to do work for the good of the group. When Ralph’s calls him out on his behaviour, he refuses to listen. Jack continuously repeats the same few words, “But we want meat!” (Golding, 55). This is only the first step in Jack’s violent downfall. He eventually kills a pig and finds that he enjoyed being violent. “‘There was lashings of …show more content…
However, the first instance of violence was the group beating of Robert. “Ow! Stop it! You’re hurting!” (Golding, 125). The beating of Robert seemed harmless at first. That was until the group of boys refused to stop. Compared to what violent act was committed next, this was a sure sign of danger within the group. The next act is murder. This shows that all last bit of innocence that the boys possess. Simon’s murder (Golding, Chapter Nine, 167) and Piggy’s death (Golding, Chapter 11) are the final two incidents that prove that their is no innocence left in any of the boys.
Being abandoned on an island is not something that everyone has to endure. It is no surprise that the boys lost their innocence on the island, however, it doesn’t make it any less sad. Murder and violence is what led to the tragic ending of two lives and horrors of many other
Jack Merridew’s obsession with hunting starts near the start of the novel. When Jack misses killing a pig, he becomes enraged and refuses to do work for the good of the group. When Ralph’s calls him out on his behaviour, he refuses to listen. Jack continuously repeats the same few words, “But we want meat!” (Golding, 55). This is only the first step in Jack’s violent downfall. He eventually kills a pig and finds that he enjoyed being violent. “‘There was lashings of …show more content…
However, the first instance of violence was the group beating of Robert. “Ow! Stop it! You’re hurting!” (Golding, 125). The beating of Robert seemed harmless at first. That was until the group of boys refused to stop. Compared to what violent act was committed next, this was a sure sign of danger within the group. The next act is murder. This shows that all last bit of innocence that the boys possess. Simon’s murder (Golding, Chapter Nine, 167) and Piggy’s death (Golding, Chapter 11) are the final two incidents that prove that their is no innocence left in any of the boys.
Being abandoned on an island is not something that everyone has to endure. It is no surprise that the boys lost their innocence on the island, however, it doesn’t make it any less sad. Murder and violence is what led to the tragic ending of two lives and horrors of many other