Tyler Lin
Ms. Cler
World Core
14 October 2015
The Only Thing We Have to Fear is Fear Itself
Humankind has evolved over the course of millions of years, advancing from an early hominid to the modern image of man. The human race has come considerably far, and what helped them get this far were their complex brains, utilitarian inventions, and communicative societies. In the novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding, a group of English schoolboys are stranded on a deserted island in the middle of the ocean. As time passes, the boys are faced with a myriad of issues including rescue, food, power, society, and a beast. Society, inside and outside the novel, unites humans, and in the absence of that force, humans are inclined to fear more ideas …show more content…
“For such is the nature of men that howsoever they may acknowledge many others to be more witty, or more eloquent or more learned, yet they will hardly believe there may be so wise as themselves; for they see their own wit at hand, and other men’s at a distance” (Hobbes). What Hobbes is saying is that humans, even though they know that others may be superior and better than them, still believe that their own selves are the best. He uses both irony and parallelism to convey this. Irony is used in the way where humans realize that there are those better than themselves, but do not admit it. Parallelism is shown through Hobbes’ word choice and syntax of “more witty”, “more eloquent”, and “more learned”, which are used to support his argument that humans will always think of themselves as unequal to the inferior. This brings back the idea that humans will treat others unfairly and think of themselves as superior -- relating back to the idea of equality. It translates to how humans can and will bully others to make themselves feel better or kill others to their own benefit and satisfaction. Golding uses Jack, through his many savage and selfish actions, to represent this idea. An instance in particular is when Jack bullies and beats Piggy. “‘You would, would you? Fatty!’ Ralph made a step and Jack …show more content…
Locke states that “...equality [is] wherein all the power and jurisdiction is reciprocal, no one having more than another; there being nothing more evident, than that the creatures of the same species and rank, promiscuously born to all the same advantages of nature, and the use of the same faculties, should also be equal one amongst another without subordination or subjection” (Locke). His statement express the converse of Hobbes’ argument, and says that humans are equal with equal rights and opportunities. Although Locke’s argument is valid, Hobbes’ idea makes more sense as his thought process encompasses every individual. Not one individual can be completely selfless, but at the same time, not one individual can be completely selfish. There has to be a balance between the two philosophies, and incorporating both ideas into one philosophy seems best, but either way, Hobbes’ argument is more correct and accurate than Locke’s. Golding also seems to agree when he describes Piggy’s death. “The rock struck Piggy a glancing blow from chin to knee; the conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist… Piggy’s arms and legs twitched a bit, like a pig’s after it has been killed” (Golding 181). His writing
Ms. Cler
World Core
14 October 2015
The Only Thing We Have to Fear is Fear Itself
Humankind has evolved over the course of millions of years, advancing from an early hominid to the modern image of man. The human race has come considerably far, and what helped them get this far were their complex brains, utilitarian inventions, and communicative societies. In the novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding, a group of English schoolboys are stranded on a deserted island in the middle of the ocean. As time passes, the boys are faced with a myriad of issues including rescue, food, power, society, and a beast. Society, inside and outside the novel, unites humans, and in the absence of that force, humans are inclined to fear more ideas …show more content…
“For such is the nature of men that howsoever they may acknowledge many others to be more witty, or more eloquent or more learned, yet they will hardly believe there may be so wise as themselves; for they see their own wit at hand, and other men’s at a distance” (Hobbes). What Hobbes is saying is that humans, even though they know that others may be superior and better than them, still believe that their own selves are the best. He uses both irony and parallelism to convey this. Irony is used in the way where humans realize that there are those better than themselves, but do not admit it. Parallelism is shown through Hobbes’ word choice and syntax of “more witty”, “more eloquent”, and “more learned”, which are used to support his argument that humans will always think of themselves as unequal to the inferior. This brings back the idea that humans will treat others unfairly and think of themselves as superior -- relating back to the idea of equality. It translates to how humans can and will bully others to make themselves feel better or kill others to their own benefit and satisfaction. Golding uses Jack, through his many savage and selfish actions, to represent this idea. An instance in particular is when Jack bullies and beats Piggy. “‘You would, would you? Fatty!’ Ralph made a step and Jack …show more content…
Locke states that “...equality [is] wherein all the power and jurisdiction is reciprocal, no one having more than another; there being nothing more evident, than that the creatures of the same species and rank, promiscuously born to all the same advantages of nature, and the use of the same faculties, should also be equal one amongst another without subordination or subjection” (Locke). His statement express the converse of Hobbes’ argument, and says that humans are equal with equal rights and opportunities. Although Locke’s argument is valid, Hobbes’ idea makes more sense as his thought process encompasses every individual. Not one individual can be completely selfless, but at the same time, not one individual can be completely selfish. There has to be a balance between the two philosophies, and incorporating both ideas into one philosophy seems best, but either way, Hobbes’ argument is more correct and accurate than Locke’s. Golding also seems to agree when he describes Piggy’s death. “The rock struck Piggy a glancing blow from chin to knee; the conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist… Piggy’s arms and legs twitched a bit, like a pig’s after it has been killed” (Golding 181). His writing