Lord Of The Flies

Essay by EssaySwap ContributorHigh School, 10th grade February 2008

download word file, 2 pages 3.0

Downloaded 15 times

The nature of man is reflected in our society. In William Golding's Lord of the Flies, the reader witnesses a portrayal of society through a group of British schoolboys. These civilized schoolboys undergo changes as they gradually adapt to this island freedom. The basic philosophy in this book is that mankind and society is evil. Instances such as "Samneric" representation of goodness joining Jack's savage tribe, the beast within all of us, and the tragic digression from civilization to the ways our savage ancestors. These are all examples that reinforce mankind's evil in the story and in our society.

"Samneric" perfectly represent today's society. Though truly good "Samneric" want to be safe more then anything so when Jack tries to make them join his savage tribe the twins feel threatened and immediately join the safe side. The twins also betray their loyalty to Ralph when they tell Jack and the savage hunter's where Ralph is hiding.

Like in today's society people will step on whatever morals they have, to make themselves and only themselves safe.

Another example referring to society is the beast within. The dormant beast within the boys represented the dwelling evil in mankind. The beast is allowed to grow, because the boys wouldn't let the notion of the "beastie" go. Soon the beast within Jack surfaces. Jack makes his first kill and is proud of it. After the first kill accompanied with the toll of the island freedom let the beast thrive. Jack indicated the beast is there when he says, "If you're hunting … something's behind you all the time in the jungle (pg. 53)". This allowed Golding to further develop how the boys show societies darker inner evil.

The digression from civilization back to survival of the fittest...