In the novel, The Lord of the Flies William Golding, the author, constantly hints to the reader through the actions of the characters that beneath humankind’s civilized behavior and composure, a primitive savage or unevolved destructive being resides who possesses an indigenous tendency for chaos. One such character, Jack, represents evil in human nature as developed through his cruelty, his connection with violent imagery as well as violence towards innocent beings and creatures.
The main antagonist, Jack displays the qualities of an individual who has a natural inclination for chaos. Jack’s constant brutal treatment of Piggy displays human cruelty, as Jack takes advantage of his power on any occasion possible. Piggy is an easy victim since …show more content…
“Within the diamond haze of the beach something dark was fumbling along...Then the creature stepped from the mirage on to clear sand, and they saw that the darkness was not all shadow but mostly clothing” (Golding 19). This passage introduces Jack’s character and describes him as a beast or a ‘creature’ of sorts. This first impression is a foreshadowing of Jack’s later character as a hunter, murderer and ruthless dictator. “The mask was a thing of its own, behind which Jack had liberated from shame and self-consciousness” (Golding, 64). In this scene, Jack loses all traces of civilization. His body is caked in dirt and shrouded with vines and lastly, his face, the only human part of his outer appearance, is covered by a make shift mask. With this mask on, Jack is no longer bound to society’s rules; he can roam around as a savage with no boundaries, no feeling of shame and no conscience telling him the proper thing to do. These examples portray how man can transform into a ruthless and gruesome person who can go to great lengths to show authority without the consideration of moral …show more content…
This argument is seen on numerous occasions in the novel. One such example would be, “They knew very well why he hadn't: because of the enormity of the knife descending and cutting into living flesh; because of the unbearable blood” (Golding 31). This is the first scene where Jack’s transgression is clearly depicted. In the beginning, Jack fears killing the pig, a fear he eventually overcomes. Rather than finding the blood unbearable, he lusts for it. This shows Jack’s transformation from a civilized boy with morals to a savage creature. “Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Bash her head” (Golding 75). This rhythmic chant displays Jack and his hunting crew’s chant after successfully killing their first animal. This chant represents the joy that the boys obtain from brutally killing a living creature, showing their transformation into savages. Another important factor is when the boys killed the female pig, which displays boys ultimately killing a source of piglets, a source of innocence and new life. This literal death of innocence shows the boys slowly eradicating all that is good and pure on the
The main antagonist, Jack displays the qualities of an individual who has a natural inclination for chaos. Jack’s constant brutal treatment of Piggy displays human cruelty, as Jack takes advantage of his power on any occasion possible. Piggy is an easy victim since …show more content…
“Within the diamond haze of the beach something dark was fumbling along...Then the creature stepped from the mirage on to clear sand, and they saw that the darkness was not all shadow but mostly clothing” (Golding 19). This passage introduces Jack’s character and describes him as a beast or a ‘creature’ of sorts. This first impression is a foreshadowing of Jack’s later character as a hunter, murderer and ruthless dictator. “The mask was a thing of its own, behind which Jack had liberated from shame and self-consciousness” (Golding, 64). In this scene, Jack loses all traces of civilization. His body is caked in dirt and shrouded with vines and lastly, his face, the only human part of his outer appearance, is covered by a make shift mask. With this mask on, Jack is no longer bound to society’s rules; he can roam around as a savage with no boundaries, no feeling of shame and no conscience telling him the proper thing to do. These examples portray how man can transform into a ruthless and gruesome person who can go to great lengths to show authority without the consideration of moral …show more content…
This argument is seen on numerous occasions in the novel. One such example would be, “They knew very well why he hadn't: because of the enormity of the knife descending and cutting into living flesh; because of the unbearable blood” (Golding 31). This is the first scene where Jack’s transgression is clearly depicted. In the beginning, Jack fears killing the pig, a fear he eventually overcomes. Rather than finding the blood unbearable, he lusts for it. This shows Jack’s transformation from a civilized boy with morals to a savage creature. “Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Bash her head” (Golding 75). This rhythmic chant displays Jack and his hunting crew’s chant after successfully killing their first animal. This chant represents the joy that the boys obtain from brutally killing a living creature, showing their transformation into savages. Another important factor is when the boys killed the female pig, which displays boys ultimately killing a source of piglets, a source of innocence and new life. This literal death of innocence shows the boys slowly eradicating all that is good and pure on the