In William Golding’s article, Why Boys Become Vicious, he stated, “But what must be true is that we can be twisted and distorted beyond recognition by the guidance—or lack of it—that we absorb directly from our families. If there is no one around to guide children, then they go wrong.” He also expresses a similar idea in his book, The Lord of The Flies, when a group of boys are abandoned on an island and must work towards getting rescued while also preserving humanity. This is experienced through the eyes of the main characters Ralph, Piggy, Jack and Simon. Golding proclaims the theme that if one does not tend to the agitating ways of savagery, it can spread and destroy, by using two predominant symbols in the book, the painted mask and fire.
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Golding goes to show savagery destroying civilization when the fire goes out of control for the first time. Golding expresses, “...the boys were falling still and silent, feeling the beginnings of awe at the power set free below them. The knowledge and the awe made him savage,”(44). This quote reiterates that the fire going out of control gives them the feeling of being powerful and therefore taken over by savagery. Equally important, Golding works to inform of the reaction to such power. Golding explains, “A pall stretched for miles away from the island. All the boys except Piggy started to giggle; presently they were shrieking with laughter,”(45). This line further demonstrates the understanding of how the boys are automatically engrossed into savagery so that it produces ignorance away from civilization, especially with the fact that the boy with a mulberry-color scar on his face perishes in this fire. Finally, Golding states the steps Piggy and Ralph take early on to prevent savagery, which unfortunately go to vain. Piggy exclaims, “‘But the first time Ralph says 'fire' you goes howling and screaming up this here mountain. Like a pack of kids!’"(Golding 45). Golding works to explain how unsuccessful approaches to managing civilization(just as they fail to contain the fire and manage the other kids) can lead to a disaster and cause chaos. Ultimately, Golding uses the symbol of the fire to show how savagery spreads and destroys when not tended
Golding goes to show savagery destroying civilization when the fire goes out of control for the first time. Golding expresses, “...the boys were falling still and silent, feeling the beginnings of awe at the power set free below them. The knowledge and the awe made him savage,”(44). This quote reiterates that the fire going out of control gives them the feeling of being powerful and therefore taken over by savagery. Equally important, Golding works to inform of the reaction to such power. Golding explains, “A pall stretched for miles away from the island. All the boys except Piggy started to giggle; presently they were shrieking with laughter,”(45). This line further demonstrates the understanding of how the boys are automatically engrossed into savagery so that it produces ignorance away from civilization, especially with the fact that the boy with a mulberry-color scar on his face perishes in this fire. Finally, Golding states the steps Piggy and Ralph take early on to prevent savagery, which unfortunately go to vain. Piggy exclaims, “‘But the first time Ralph says 'fire' you goes howling and screaming up this here mountain. Like a pack of kids!’"(Golding 45). Golding works to explain how unsuccessful approaches to managing civilization(just as they fail to contain the fire and manage the other kids) can lead to a disaster and cause chaos. Ultimately, Golding uses the symbol of the fire to show how savagery spreads and destroys when not tended