Literary Analysis: Lord of the Flies
“When a man is compelled to choose between two evils, no one will choose the greater when he could have the less.” This is not the case for Jack in William Golding’s parable Lord of the Flies. When encountering this choice Jack chooses that of the greater evil. As a group of once civilized British schoolboys crash on a tropical island with no presence of adult authority, they are forced to take order into their own hands. In their attempt of survival they try to create a functioning society. The evil that is said to lurk within every human begins to corrupt the boys’ minds, and conflict arrises. Eventually the boys break off into two opposing groups.One of wild savages and the other sensible thinkers. …show more content…
For example, piggy’s glasses represent technology and are the artifact of attraction. These glasses create conflict between the boys. They are needed in order to create a signal fire which is their only hope for rescue.The signal fire becomes the boys only connection to society and is not cared for as the boys lose their innocence. Another symbol that is lost along with the boy's innocence is the conch, which brought them together in the very beginning. It embodies civilization and order among them, and as they become less responsive to the power they invested in, disorder emerges. “If I blow the conch and they don’t come back; then we’ve had it. We shan’t keep the fire going. We’ll be like animals. We’ll never be rescued.pg.98” This quote shows how as their confidence in the power of the conch diminishes, so does their desire to return to society. Once the boys become savages the conch is broken. Shattering their last hope of an orderly society. Another exemplary aspect of symbolism is the pig head on a stick, also known as the lord of the flies, a powerful representation of the human inborn evil that overcomes child innocence. The “beast” itself is fabricated. It stands for the evil in every human. Ralph and Jack symbolize the main theme because ralph represents civilization and Jack savagery. These two characters are constantly clashing with each other throughout the novel. They …show more content…
In the beginning few chapters the island resembles the Garden of Eden with its perfect scenery, abundant fruit, and good weather. Soon after the plane crashes Ralph bathes in the water, an indication of baptism and the innocent Adam and Eve’s nudity. When the boys first site the “snake-like thing” it alludes to Satan and his entering into the Garden of Eden in the disguise of a serpent. Not only is the beast something evil within them as of Satan’s personality but it is a serpent in which the boys decide upon it being a snake. As some people say Satan is an external force others think it is just a reflection of evil human nature. This shows how the beast which is actually an evil part of human nature in them can corrupt. It is an allusion of what this misleading, negative force within us
“When a man is compelled to choose between two evils, no one will choose the greater when he could have the less.” This is not the case for Jack in William Golding’s parable Lord of the Flies. When encountering this choice Jack chooses that of the greater evil. As a group of once civilized British schoolboys crash on a tropical island with no presence of adult authority, they are forced to take order into their own hands. In their attempt of survival they try to create a functioning society. The evil that is said to lurk within every human begins to corrupt the boys’ minds, and conflict arrises. Eventually the boys break off into two opposing groups.One of wild savages and the other sensible thinkers. …show more content…
For example, piggy’s glasses represent technology and are the artifact of attraction. These glasses create conflict between the boys. They are needed in order to create a signal fire which is their only hope for rescue.The signal fire becomes the boys only connection to society and is not cared for as the boys lose their innocence. Another symbol that is lost along with the boy's innocence is the conch, which brought them together in the very beginning. It embodies civilization and order among them, and as they become less responsive to the power they invested in, disorder emerges. “If I blow the conch and they don’t come back; then we’ve had it. We shan’t keep the fire going. We’ll be like animals. We’ll never be rescued.pg.98” This quote shows how as their confidence in the power of the conch diminishes, so does their desire to return to society. Once the boys become savages the conch is broken. Shattering their last hope of an orderly society. Another exemplary aspect of symbolism is the pig head on a stick, also known as the lord of the flies, a powerful representation of the human inborn evil that overcomes child innocence. The “beast” itself is fabricated. It stands for the evil in every human. Ralph and Jack symbolize the main theme because ralph represents civilization and Jack savagery. These two characters are constantly clashing with each other throughout the novel. They …show more content…
In the beginning few chapters the island resembles the Garden of Eden with its perfect scenery, abundant fruit, and good weather. Soon after the plane crashes Ralph bathes in the water, an indication of baptism and the innocent Adam and Eve’s nudity. When the boys first site the “snake-like thing” it alludes to Satan and his entering into the Garden of Eden in the disguise of a serpent. Not only is the beast something evil within them as of Satan’s personality but it is a serpent in which the boys decide upon it being a snake. As some people say Satan is an external force others think it is just a reflection of evil human nature. This shows how the beast which is actually an evil part of human nature in them can corrupt. It is an allusion of what this misleading, negative force within us