Lord of the Flies

Essay by Anonymous UserHigh School, 11th gradeA-, October 1997

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One of the greatest emotions that controls the way any person thinks in certain situations, especially in Lord Of The Flies, is fear. The fact that except Jack, all of the boys are younger than thirteen, greatly affects the amount of fear that controlled them. From the very first chapter, until the last, fear plays an important role in this text. It is the only thing, which stops the boys from acting rational at times, from questioning curious circumstances and it physically hindered so many of the boys, so many times. The active role of fear in Lord of the Flies, was intentionally used by Golding, because he knew what images it would create. Fear is the only thing that stopped the boys from going into the darkness. Literally and also symbolically.

All of the boys on the island, are still of quite a young age. Generally associated with such ages, are night-mares and the infamous "boogey-monster" These things, are enough to frighten any kid of youth, but now they are on an island, a new place, where they are not cared for anymore.

It is quite understandable that the first mention of a "snake-thing" or "beastie", be dismissed by the elder boys, as a nightmare. Even the names echo a childish ring. However, the other little boys, do not dismiss it. Already, by the second chapter, fear has worked its way into their society.

"He say's the beastie came in the dark" (about a littilun)

"But I tell you there isn't a beast!" (Ralph)

From this moment on, the smallest of the boys, begin to have bad dreams and are scared to go near the jungle. In this sense, the jungle represents the darkness, because it is an unknown place, with little light, where there is the possibility...