Lord Of The Flies Analysis - Essay Example

William Golding’s Lord of the Flies presents human society and human nature in highly negative and pessimistic terms. Human nature, within the context of this particular story, is incontrovertibly savage. When social and legal controls are removed and humans are left to their own devices, they revert to their animalistic, bestial nature. Conceding to the aforementioned, Golding explained that his view concerning human nature was altered when he witnessed the atrocities committed during World War II. Golding asserts that he observed horrifying acts of brutality and savagery during the war that caused him to re-evaluate his earlier optimistic theory concerning the nature of humankind: Before the Second World War I believed in the perfectibility of social man; that a correct structure of society would produce a good will; and that therefore you could remove all social ills by a reorganization of society (Golding, 1997, 40-41). Golding (1994) reveals that this optimistic attitude changed after the war, as he 'had discovered what one man could do to another. The conflict between the civilized and the primitive elements that exist in human nature is the problem Golding explores in his novel Lord of the Flies. The structure of Lord of the Flies is one of a social experiment, in which a group of young boys is marooned on a tropical island. As Hodson (1971) explains, totally without adult supervision, these boys form their own society. The boys quickly form a society consisting of a chief, rules, and a symbol of law and civilization represented by the conch. The boys establish a system of distributing labour, airing their grievances, and conducting democratic elections, all in a fashion modelled after the refined society of their country. However, it is quickly apparent that the rules are not enough, as the leader of the boys, Ralph, discovers that the rules are disobeyed as long as there is no means of enforcement. Without a system for enforcement, the social framework of the island deteriorates as the clan of boys reverts to their primitive human nature. Golding implies that this primitive nature is savage and violent (Hodson, 1971). With no system of law or morality to hold them back, the boys' true primitive nature emerges and results in violence and murder. The voice of reason and civilization on the island is the character Ralph. Ralph, the chief of the boys, serves as an unwavering representation of morality and justice throughout the novel. Ralph enforces the rules on the Island, because he understands that “the rules are the only thing we've got” (Golding, 1954, 83). Ralph knows that there is little separation between civilization and savagery, and his constant reinforcement of the rules is an attempt to prevent the boys from retrograding into the depths of primitive savagery. In contrast to the other boys on the island, who merge comfortably into the group mentality of savagery, Ralph maintains a degree of civilised independence and fights the primitive impulse that overcomes the other boys in the novel by retaining his individuality. Ralph states that he would “like to put on war-paint and be a savage” (Golding, 1954, p. 129) but his sense of personal individuality allows him to resist the impulse to do so. Golding clearly indicates that the application of the war-paint in the novel represents the relinquishing of one's individualism. Ralph refuses to apply the war-paint that has stripped the personality away from the other boys, and is intent on maintaining both his distinctiveness and his sense of civilization: “`well, we won’t be painted,’ said Ralph, `because we aren’t savages’” (Golding, 1954, p. 157). Ralph understands that the face painting leads to the abdication of one's individuality, and is the first step towards the collapse of civilization. Golding also uses Ralph as a gleam of civilizing light in an otherwise primitive and brutal setting. Ralph fulfils the role of counteracting the primitive nature of humankind. Ralph's refusal to fight savagery with savagery highlights his sense of control and degree of separation from the brutality and savagery which have overwhelmed the others. Instead of stealing fire under the darkness of night, as the savage boys did to Ralph, Ralph is intent on maintaining a degree of dignity and humanity in retrieving the fire that is rightfully his. Ralph remarks that the boys will retrieve the fire “looking like we used to, washed and hair brushed - After all, we aren’t savages” (Golding, 1954, p. 155). This refusal to sink to sink to the level of barbarism is an indication of Ralph's connection to civilisation. In contrast to the picture of humanity and civilization displayed by Ralph, Golding presents a darker side of human nature through the character Jack. Golding depicts Jack, the leader of the boys’ choir, as a "darkness” that “was a party of boys” (Golding, 1954, p. 18). Jack starts the novel with a degree of humanity, as he restrains from killing at first and insists that the boys follow the rules of the island. As the novel progresses though, Jack slowly loses all connection with civilization , as he transforms into a savage brute, overcome by a primitive nature. Golding remarks that once Jack paints his face he reverts to savagery: “the mask was a thing on its own, behind which Jack hid, liberated from the shame of self consciousness” (p. 58). Indeed, when Jack looks at himself from this point on, he is not looking at Jack Merridew, but at a total stranger who is representative of the primitive will of humankind (Hodson, 1971). Golding compares the primitive nature that overcomes Jack to the forest itself, as he states that “the forest and [Jack] were very still” (Golding, 1954, p. 44). This leads to the transition from Jack's civilized nature to the primitive nature of the savages. as Jack, who was initially reluctant to kill a pig for fear of the “unbearable blood,” (p. 29) later rejoices that Ralph “should have seen the blood” (120) of their kill. Jack’s transgression to savagery also results in his abandonment of the civilized rules of the island, as he declares “bullocks to the rules” (p. 79). Jack's transgression towards the primitive side of human nature is apparent when he no longer makes a distinction between killing a pig for food and killing all that oppose him. Declaring “I’m chief,” Jack “hurled his spear at Ralph,” grazing him in the process (p. 165). The violence has become acceptable on the island, because the violence is representative of humankind's true nature. Through Jack's action, Golding implies that without the threat of punishment that society provides, the true nature of humankind is allowed to emerge and kill without remorse. The madness that overcomes Jack is a madness that is the dark and primitive nature of humankind and is the reason why Jack attempts to kill Ralph, as Ralph represents the only remaining semblance of sanity, civilization and humanity on the island. Golding implies that the Lord of the Flies, the translation of the Hebrew word Beelzebub, or Satan, is a part of every human (Dick, 1987, p. 21). Evil and beasts are not something external that one can hunt, as they are actually elements that lie within humankind. Golding clarifies this point as the Lord of the Flies speaks: `Fancy thinking the beast was something you could hunt and kill!,’ said the head. For a moment or two the forest and all the other dimly appreciated places echoed with a parody of laughter. `You knew, didn’t you? I'm part of you? Close, close, close!’ (Golding, 1954, p. 131) The “parody of laughter” (p. 131) reflects the foolishness of the boys in believing that the beast lives in the jungle, for the beast has always been inside them, waiting to emerge. In other words, the primate darkness is always present under the veneer of civilisation which we, as human beings, hide our true nature under. Golding uses the conflict between Ralph and Jack to highlight his opinions of the nature of humankind and society. Golding’s message is that humankind has the potential for both good and evil, and that losing sight of civilization will result in a reversion to the darkness and evil that lies within. This is the reason that Ralph weeps for “the end of innocence,” and “the darkness of man’s heart” (Golding, 1954, p. 184) at the end of the novel. Golding’s social experiment ends with murder, fire, and destruction of the entire island, all caused by the evil nature of humankind. Golding shows that the demonic behavior of the boys is not a learned trait, but is an element of the basic nature of humankind. The laws of civilization can temporarily suppress this primitive nature, but it is always there, lingering just below the surface. Some, like Ralph, are able to control their primitive drive towards violence by retaining a degree of civilization, but for those who cannot, like Jack, the darkness is overwhelming and impossible to resist. Bibliography Dick, B.F. (1987) William Golding. Boston: Hall. Golding, W. (1954) Lord of the Flies. New York: Putnam. Golding, W. (1997) “ Lord of the Flies as Fable.” The Greenhaven Press Literary Companion to British Literature: Readings on Lord of the Flies. Ed. Bruno Leone. San Diego: Greenhaven. Hodson, L. (1971) William Golding. New York: Capricorn. Read More