Discuss how Golding uses symbolism and metaphor (piggys glasses, conch, Simon) to reveal this theme. Are these devices effective? What part does each play in revealing Goldings view of human nature? human kind is naturally evil
The central concern of Lord of the Flies is the conflict between two competing impulses that exist within all human beings: the instinct to live by rules, act peacefully, follow moral commands, and value the good of the group against the instinct to gratify one's immediate desires, act violently to obtain supremacy over others, and enforce one's will. This conflict might be expressed in a number of ways: civilization vs. savagery, order vs. chaos, reason vs. impulse, law vs. anarchy, or the broader heading of good vs. evil. Throughout the novel, Golding associates the instinct of civilization with good and the instinct of savagery with evil
Our fragile civilization is held together by different forces.
One force is always counter-balanced by another force. The two forces are always in conflict with each other and may be expressed in different ways: civilization vs. savagery, reason vs. impulse, law vs. anarchy, order vs. chaos, or the long standing good vs. evil. In the novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding the forces of good represented by civilization struggles with forces of evil linked with savagery. The main theme of the novel questions if human kind is naturally evil. Different items with-in the novel such as Piggy's glasses, the conch shell, and Simon represented different views of human nature.
The different symbols used by Golding reveals his theme of the human nature. Golding sees moral behavior, as something that society forces upon the individual rather than a natural expression of human nature. Without society the world would be in chaos because of the natural evilness of...
Symbolism and metaphor
You've written an interesting essay on Golding's famous story. However, I would have liked you to have gone into more detail about specific symbols and their meaning. For example, the island is symbolic of society as a whole as Golding feels his message has universal applicability. The Beast represents man's darker nature. Ralph, the chief who sets rules for the other boys to follow, represents law and order. There are other symbols as well and you may wish to expand your essay by giving a more in depth account of individual metaphors in the novel.
5 out of 5 people found this comment useful.