Human nature can be seen from two perspectives. The wicked nature of humans can see through William Golding's novel Lord of the Flies where a group of British boys becomes stranded on an island without grown ups and attempt to create a society with rules, but end of failing because one boy becomes unreasonable and violent. Philosopher Locke believes differently from Golding saying that men can be good if we reason and treat each other fairly. Despite their differences, both authors believe that a society without rules can lead to its own self-destruction. Golding illustrates how people can, in the absence of government, revert to a primitive state of nature and thereby make unreasonable decisions, similar to what Locke argues.
Locke emphasizes …show more content…
Locke believes, “the state of nature has a law of nature to govern it, which obliges every one: and reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind, who will but consult it, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another...” (Locke). The active voice further underscores Locke’s conclusion of self-evidence and inevitability of reason being the one ¨rule¨ in the state of nature that ultimately leads to or justifies the formation of a government. This idea can also be seen when Jack talks to the boys about having rules. “ ‘I agree with Ralph. We’ve got to have rules and obey them. After all, we’re not savages.’ “ (Golding, 42). In the first few chapters of Lord of the Flies, the boys were still civil. The fact that they decided to come up with rules shows they can agree, that they are still influenced by their civilization, the government that once set rules for their civilization, their homeland, their education, etc. Afterwards, the boys become uncivilized as foreshadowed when Golding uses words like "obey" and "savages" to convey a sense of fear of what the boys will become. In the beginning, the boys were more civilized and they were able to get along well, but as the story progresses, the boys slowly get rid of the rules and loose civility. This is similar to Locke’s argument that a society either has rules or it does not. Depending on that, whether society will remain civilized or turn
Locke emphasizes …show more content…
Locke believes, “the state of nature has a law of nature to govern it, which obliges every one: and reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind, who will but consult it, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another...” (Locke). The active voice further underscores Locke’s conclusion of self-evidence and inevitability of reason being the one ¨rule¨ in the state of nature that ultimately leads to or justifies the formation of a government. This idea can also be seen when Jack talks to the boys about having rules. “ ‘I agree with Ralph. We’ve got to have rules and obey them. After all, we’re not savages.’ “ (Golding, 42). In the first few chapters of Lord of the Flies, the boys were still civil. The fact that they decided to come up with rules shows they can agree, that they are still influenced by their civilization, the government that once set rules for their civilization, their homeland, their education, etc. Afterwards, the boys become uncivilized as foreshadowed when Golding uses words like "obey" and "savages" to convey a sense of fear of what the boys will become. In the beginning, the boys were more civilized and they were able to get along well, but as the story progresses, the boys slowly get rid of the rules and loose civility. This is similar to Locke’s argument that a society either has rules or it does not. Depending on that, whether society will remain civilized or turn