"Lord of the Flies" qualifies as great literature

Essay by CountCheatsHigh School, 10th gradeA+, July 2007

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Lord of the LiteratureThe purpose of an orator is “docere, movere, delectare.” (to teach, to affect or move, to delight or please) - Cicero“All that is literature seeks to communicate power” - Thomas De Quincey. Truly the ultimate goal of all literature is to communicate a strong point or message, or as Thomas De Quincey describes, power. Truly the work of literature that most meets Thomas De Quincey’s requirement has also met the purpose as outlined by Cicero. However, should a work of literature not convey a powerful message, then it simply will not teach, move, or delight. Lord of the Flies best achieves Cicero’s criteria for literature because of the powerful message it conveys.

"Lord of the Flies" achieves Cicero’s criteria for literature because it sufficiently teaches the reader with its powerful message regarding the nature of humanity. When the assembly of children are attempting make sense of the proposition of a “beast” existing on the island, Simon offers intriguing insight on the situation: “Maybe there is a beast […] maybe it’s only us” (Golding 89).

Simon recognizes the evil that lies in the hearts of every individual on the island after the terrible deeds he has witnessed. Simon’s proposition that the evil on the island truly lies in the hearts of men is disregarded by the rest of the children, however. The reader learns a lot about him or herself through Simon’s wisdom. This sad realization is also reached by Ralph at the end of the novel when he “wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart, and the fall through the air of the true, wise friend called Piggy” (202). Ralph realizes the terrible qualities of humanity that plague the Earth. Throughout the novel, the reader learns of many of these terrible...