Lord Of The Flies Masks Analysis

Golding uses masks and disguise in lord of the flies to allow the reader to develop a deeper understanding of the complexity of the characters. While applying paint to his face, Jack is described as ‘planning his new face’. This suggests to the reader that Jack has changed as a person from the beginning of the book. Jack continues this contrast in character when he is described as ‘snarling’ and having a ‘sinewy body’. His now ‘sinewy body’ suggests that he is built and muscular, sinewy being more of an adjective to describe a grown man. The use of the verb ‘snarling’ allows the audience to make the comparison of jack to an animal, one who is angry and prepared to fight. Verbs and adjectives like this create a juxtaposition between how Jack and possibly the other boys have become, only a few chapters into the book, to how they were at the beginning. While at the beginning the boys were described with words with angelic and child like connotations, now that they are stuck on the …show more content…
While the masks similarly develop more of an understanding for the characters, Shakespeare does so in a different way to Golding. In the ball scene the reader is given more of an insight into the character Romeo. In some ways it positions the reader to possibly dislike his character due to how quickly he falls in love with juliet and how quickly he forgets Rosaline. The idea that they are wearing masks and therefore Romeo is not able to entirely see Juliet and hasn't talked to her strengthens this as he is only falling in love with what he can see in front of him. However, assuming they do not take their masks off when talking to each other, Shakespeare could be suggesting that it should not be their appearance that you are falling in love with, it shoud be their personality, therefore possibly increasing the reader's liking for the idea and characters and developing the