Human Behavior depends on circumstances - Lord of the flies by William Golding

Essay by danger734High School, 11th grade April 2008

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Laws and rules are definitely necessary to keep the darker side of human nature in line. Sin is basic and inherent in humanity and civilized human behaviour depends on circumstances. In the novel Lord of the Flies, William Golding reveals the idea that human behaviour and human nature degenerates according to the circumstances. Ralph is a natural leader and very much a true human as he tried to maintain the orders, but is often tempted by the savagery of the other boys. Jack is the leader of anarchy and leads the boys from civilized young men into savages. Roger was a shy boy who supported Jack’s leadership and became the most savage boy on the island.

Ralph’s authority, humanity and his commitment to civilization was very strong, but under the raw nature, he is often tempted by the savagery of the other boys. In the beginning of the novel, Ralph is unable to understand the barbarism of the hunters until he hunts the boar for the first time.

When Ralph experiences the exhilaration and the thrill of bloodlust and violence, he says, “I hit him! The spear stuck in---” (124) Ralph’s savagery is also perceived when he entered the play. “Ralph carried away by a sudden thick excitement, grabbed Eric’s spear and jabbed at Robert with it.” (125) This shows that Jack’s barbarism and violent environment leads Ralph to turn into savage. When Ralph attends Jack’s feast, he is swept away by the passion, dances on the edge of the group, and participates in the killing of Simon. This states that the evil exists within him. Ralph says that “Don’t you understand, Piggy? The things we did” “He may still be.” (173). These examples of Ralph demonstrated that when human is away from the civilized society, their behaviour regresses...