Civilization vs. Savagery in Lord of the Flies
Are human beings capable of controlling their savage nature when removed from society? In Lord of the Flies by William Golding, this is explored throughout the novel, in the way that the children slowly adapt to their surroundings. This novel brings to light the reality of human nature and natural tendencies. As shown through Jack and his increasingly violent acts. The conch has power over the children and influences their actions. Ralph feels the temptation of savagery, but is constantly trying to keep him in line. As society breaks, humans unconsciously decide between being civilized and savage in order to adapt to their surroundings as examined through Jack’s ability to become a bloodthirsty, …show more content…
First, at the beginning of the novel Jack begins to get a feel for being in the wild. For example, Jack, Ralph, and Simon explore the island in an attempt to look for help. The boys come across a pig stuck in ‘creepers’ and Jack brandishes his knife to prepare for killing the pig, however it escapes, and he tells Ralph and Simon that he was just “choosing a place [… Jack] was just waiting for a moment to decide where to stab him” (Golding 31). This proves that Jack is tentative to kill the pig, but gets a taste for hunting. While he did not perform a savage act, this situation is foreshadowing for more events to come that will encourage jack to embrace his primitive side. Secondly, Jack becomes more confident with his talent for hunting later in the novel. For example, when jack and the hunters come across a nursing pig, the see that it is easy for them to kill her because “there was no wind and [the pigs] were unsuspicious; and practice had made Jack silent as the shadows. He stole away again and instructed his hidden hunters” (134). This proves that Jack has been exposed to the wilderness and deprived of society so much that, he has been able to exercise his ability as a hunter frequently and successfully apply his skills while enjoying the killing process. After Jack kills the pig, he has blood on his hands and plays with it; this demonstrates his bloodthirstiness and his sadistic mind because he enjoyed the messy death and reveled in the power. Thirdly, near the end of the novel, Jack completely loses his civil upbringing and develops animalistic rage. For example, Ralph trying to control Jack, so Jack demands that Ralph is exiled, and then later Jack plans Ralph’s death: “What could [Jack and his hunters] do? Beat [Ralph]? So what? Kill him? A stick sharpened at both ends" (198). This demonstrates that
Are human beings capable of controlling their savage nature when removed from society? In Lord of the Flies by William Golding, this is explored throughout the novel, in the way that the children slowly adapt to their surroundings. This novel brings to light the reality of human nature and natural tendencies. As shown through Jack and his increasingly violent acts. The conch has power over the children and influences their actions. Ralph feels the temptation of savagery, but is constantly trying to keep him in line. As society breaks, humans unconsciously decide between being civilized and savage in order to adapt to their surroundings as examined through Jack’s ability to become a bloodthirsty, …show more content…
First, at the beginning of the novel Jack begins to get a feel for being in the wild. For example, Jack, Ralph, and Simon explore the island in an attempt to look for help. The boys come across a pig stuck in ‘creepers’ and Jack brandishes his knife to prepare for killing the pig, however it escapes, and he tells Ralph and Simon that he was just “choosing a place [… Jack] was just waiting for a moment to decide where to stab him” (Golding 31). This proves that Jack is tentative to kill the pig, but gets a taste for hunting. While he did not perform a savage act, this situation is foreshadowing for more events to come that will encourage jack to embrace his primitive side. Secondly, Jack becomes more confident with his talent for hunting later in the novel. For example, when jack and the hunters come across a nursing pig, the see that it is easy for them to kill her because “there was no wind and [the pigs] were unsuspicious; and practice had made Jack silent as the shadows. He stole away again and instructed his hidden hunters” (134). This proves that Jack has been exposed to the wilderness and deprived of society so much that, he has been able to exercise his ability as a hunter frequently and successfully apply his skills while enjoying the killing process. After Jack kills the pig, he has blood on his hands and plays with it; this demonstrates his bloodthirstiness and his sadistic mind because he enjoyed the messy death and reveled in the power. Thirdly, near the end of the novel, Jack completely loses his civil upbringing and develops animalistic rage. For example, Ralph trying to control Jack, so Jack demands that Ralph is exiled, and then later Jack plans Ralph’s death: “What could [Jack and his hunters] do? Beat [Ralph]? So what? Kill him? A stick sharpened at both ends" (198). This demonstrates that