In a World Without Order
There is a natural and universal desire among people to form an maintain enduring interpersonal relationships. The innate need to belong and connect, and the instinctive attempt to avoid social and physical isolation motivates people’s actions and behaviours. However, the severity of one’s actions in response to and in an attempt to escape the dreaded feeling of solitude varies. Although isolation may make some sad, but ultimately act as a motivation to act positively, the lack of civilized societal influence may cause others to act direly and unethically. In William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, a plane crash that leaves young, british boys stranded on a deserted tropical island, and that forces them to survive in …show more content…
On their way back to the lagoon, a few of the boys who went off to explore the island find a small pig tangled in the creepers. Jack raises his knife and is about to kill the pig, but stops. He is horrified, and is “white under [his] freckles” (23). However, after the pig escapes, Jack decides that “next time there [will] be no mercy” (23), and vows that given the next opportunity, he will kill the pig. Jack’s actions in this situation show how isolation from civilized society and authority have begun to alter his attitudes and behaviours. Although some influence from civilization does still remain, as he cannot bring himself to kill the pig, Jack almost immediately changes his views on killing the animal, and swears that he will kill a pig. The isolation from rules and normality in civilization are evidently beginning to change Jack’s views and attitudes, as he slowly begins to turn away from societal influence and lose his moral integrity. As the boys rush to the top of the mountain to build the fire, “Jack [snatches] the glasses off [Piggy’s] face” (32). Timid Piggy can hardly see, and is squealing in panic. Jack refuses to give his glasses back, using them to magnify the light and start the fire. Jack’s rough handling of Piggy and seizure of his possessions against his will is inappropriate and …show more content…
Following the death of Piggy at the hands of Jack’s newly formed tribe, Jack shows no remorse. He begins “[screaming] wildly” (141), and sees it as an opportunity to make himself chief. He “[stops] by [Piggy,] the pig, [turns] and [holds] up his hands” (142) to direct his tribe back to their fort. Jack’s actions in response to the death of another boy, that his group of boys was responsible for, proves how isolation from civilized society and authority has influenced his behaviour. This incident reveals Jack’s new character, as he feels that he is vindicated and that he is now the rightful chief. Being completely unphased by the death of another human being, Jack sees Piggy’s death as he would see the death of a pig or wild animal. This proves how a lack of influence from authority and civilization has caused Jack to lose his moral integrity, showing no sentiment in response to a situation as such. With Jack wanting to eliminate Ralph so that there can be no dispute over who is the true leader, he sends his group of boys on a manhunt for the old chief. Jack rallies up every boy to go after, and kill Ralph, and “[smokes] him out [by setting] the island on fire” (192). Long term isolation from the guidance of civilized society and authority has caused Jack to completely lose his moral integrity. He does not even think that there may be consequences to his immoral
There is a natural and universal desire among people to form an maintain enduring interpersonal relationships. The innate need to belong and connect, and the instinctive attempt to avoid social and physical isolation motivates people’s actions and behaviours. However, the severity of one’s actions in response to and in an attempt to escape the dreaded feeling of solitude varies. Although isolation may make some sad, but ultimately act as a motivation to act positively, the lack of civilized societal influence may cause others to act direly and unethically. In William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, a plane crash that leaves young, british boys stranded on a deserted tropical island, and that forces them to survive in …show more content…
On their way back to the lagoon, a few of the boys who went off to explore the island find a small pig tangled in the creepers. Jack raises his knife and is about to kill the pig, but stops. He is horrified, and is “white under [his] freckles” (23). However, after the pig escapes, Jack decides that “next time there [will] be no mercy” (23), and vows that given the next opportunity, he will kill the pig. Jack’s actions in this situation show how isolation from civilized society and authority have begun to alter his attitudes and behaviours. Although some influence from civilization does still remain, as he cannot bring himself to kill the pig, Jack almost immediately changes his views on killing the animal, and swears that he will kill a pig. The isolation from rules and normality in civilization are evidently beginning to change Jack’s views and attitudes, as he slowly begins to turn away from societal influence and lose his moral integrity. As the boys rush to the top of the mountain to build the fire, “Jack [snatches] the glasses off [Piggy’s] face” (32). Timid Piggy can hardly see, and is squealing in panic. Jack refuses to give his glasses back, using them to magnify the light and start the fire. Jack’s rough handling of Piggy and seizure of his possessions against his will is inappropriate and …show more content…
Following the death of Piggy at the hands of Jack’s newly formed tribe, Jack shows no remorse. He begins “[screaming] wildly” (141), and sees it as an opportunity to make himself chief. He “[stops] by [Piggy,] the pig, [turns] and [holds] up his hands” (142) to direct his tribe back to their fort. Jack’s actions in response to the death of another boy, that his group of boys was responsible for, proves how isolation from civilized society and authority has influenced his behaviour. This incident reveals Jack’s new character, as he feels that he is vindicated and that he is now the rightful chief. Being completely unphased by the death of another human being, Jack sees Piggy’s death as he would see the death of a pig or wild animal. This proves how a lack of influence from authority and civilization has caused Jack to lose his moral integrity, showing no sentiment in response to a situation as such. With Jack wanting to eliminate Ralph so that there can be no dispute over who is the true leader, he sends his group of boys on a manhunt for the old chief. Jack rallies up every boy to go after, and kill Ralph, and “[smokes] him out [by setting] the island on fire” (192). Long term isolation from the guidance of civilized society and authority has caused Jack to completely lose his moral integrity. He does not even think that there may be consequences to his immoral