Fire has always been a prominent symbol throughout human history, representing both purity and destruction. With this duality, it serves a major role in Lord of the Flies, a book about a group of English schoolboys who get stranded on an uninhabited island and turn from innocent children into violent savages. The dour outcome and the pessimistic view of humanity expressed in the book was undoubtedly contributed to by William Golding’s service as a naval officer in World War 2. In Lord of the Flies, fire is used to measure the savagery of the boys. Through their interactions with fire, from creating a smoke signal to setting a wildfire, Golding expresses his belief that civilized behavior can be taught, but humans are innately savage.
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