Lord of the Flies

      In the novel, Lord of the Flies, William Golding tells the story of a group of boys on an island left out to self survive. The time was World War II when the plane the boys were in was shot down leaving young survivals on a deserted island without any adults. The whole story is about what happens during their stay on the island representing metaphoric ideas of humanity in each incident as Golding describes. Golding has reportedly said that he wrote the novel in response to his personal war experiences. “ (The war)… taught us not fighting, politics or the follies of nationalism, but about the given nature of man.” (Golding) By looking at Lord of the Flies, it is clear that Golding’s view of the nature of man is negative. As he describes the happenings, he puts out an idea of humanity based on some happening of the past allowing the reader to set his mind on that specific happening through out the incident and comparing parallel ideas that Golding describes in his metaphoric writing in Lord of the Flies. He clearly identifies our basic negative side within us, present in our society making a clear focus of it, symbolizing it to be very important, resulting us thinking about a big happening down in the pages of history.

     The book starts with Piggy and Ralph meeting each other in an island that they are not sure of. Piggy, explained as the thoughtful, civilized and intelligent one has had problems with his physical features back in England which he does not want here in the island. As he says “I don't care what [you] call me so long as...[it's not] what they used to call me in school...They used to call me Piggy!” (Piggy, pg. 11) Golding clearly shows how mankind have always lived up trying to go further and further away from their problems not actually fixing them but just by not facing it at all. This is a general description of features of a man as in how we survive out our weaknesses. Golding also shows how we rather prefer hiding our bad side not letting anyone know instead of bringing it out and actually trying to change it.

     As Ralph says “Better Piggy than Fatty” (pg. 25) Golding describes how humans tend to find ways to escape the blame. Golding shows how people can accept the bad due to their own reasons but still feel ok about it as if they are not to blame and not worry about it at all.

     As the book progresses, Jack arrives leading his group of choir boys. "[There was] something dark...fumbling along....The creature was a party of boys, marching approximately in...two parallel lines...." (pg. 18). Golding tries to describe that in human social life, there always emerges a leader or let’s just say, there is competition between people to be better than the others; to stand higher than the others. One of the first things they do is pick a leader which signifies that mankind greeds power. Of course conditions and circumstances always do not come handy, but if there is a chance, there is always a feeling of standing ahead of others.

     After some discussions as they figure out what they are going to do according to their skills and capabilities, it’s obvious that each want to become or do better than the other. Some discussions follow representing a direct attitude of comparison between mankind. "You're no good on a job like this." (Ralph, pg. 24) As this is said, Golding tries to show us that we always try to put others down and take pride in what we are good at. Being good in something, we just think that everything related to it that we do will be for the good and we don’t really seem to realize our bad doings. Golding tries to show how humans think they are superior and the concept of “I’m always right” stays very active deep within the deeds even though we might not directly give in to it. Trying to push down all on the side at your level so that you can stand high has always been present in mankind as Golding describes how the boys (specially between Ralph and Jack) try to be better than each other. Pretending to get along with each other, Golding also shows how we try to stay secure even with that evil burning inside each and everyone one of us. Comparing each other to become the better one has always been an active part of humanity. Golding shows this clearly through how the boys decide what to do.

     Even though a major difference is seen between Ralph and Jack in which Ralph is more of a democratic thinker who believes getting rescued as soon as possible is important, Jack clearly signifies that they are there and that, they should survive there hunting and enjoying giving less preference to the idea of getting rescued soon; the two thoughts just seem to bloom out for themselves leaving most of the others to just follow along the right one as to the best of their knowledge. Golding shows competition between the two as of in our society where we think we are always right and how we want things always to go our way.

     "The candle-buds opened their wide white flowers....Their scent spilled out into the air and took possession of the island." As Golding continues with the competitive ideas between the two boys, he brings in Simon, who is the Christ like character in the story. He basically shows that there are some in the society who wants to do good living up with the situations they encounter and still doing their best. “Like candles. Candle bushes. Candle buds” (Simon, pg 30) This clearly shows the better side of humanity as in what the island is for Simon or what it is if would be if the island was filled with boys like Simon. Simon is a very helpful character who stands neutral and just drives his road to where it is lead by circumstances. He helps everyone not judging anyone for who they are but just bringing out that helpful quality in him for the others. He helps Ralph build the shelter, the Littluns get the fruit, Jack to explore and tries keeping peace between and within all the boys.

     Rules are made according to basic thinking showing social features of mankind. Where it leads to, Golding keeps a secret but till now he just throws hints to introduce mankind.

     As for their first ranger activity, the boys discover pigs. Jack, who is ultimately interested in hunting for meat comes close to stabbing it. As he prepares himself to kill the pig, he just couldn’t and it ran off. “ I was going to.. I was choosing a place. Next time.” ( Jack, pg 31) Golding describes how it is for the first time. Like, for a killer, it is no big happening to kill another man, but if it the first, however hard the person is, there is still that side in him or her that keeps a thin line from stepping ahead or remaining back.

     Now, as all of this hunting thing is going around, the littluns start fearing this so called “beastie” that they seem to believe exists on the island. In a group gathering as Ralph speaks for a littlun “He still says he saw the beastie. It came and went away again an’ came back and wanted to eat him” (pg 36); Golding shows the evil that now terrifies they themselves. As they are to start taking away some other animal’s life, the same evil has started growing in them too. As “He was dreaming” (pg 36) is said; its shown how thoughts are used to cover up questions and confusions to a conclusion where you can’t stand strong basically due to the lack of information/facts/reasons. Yes, the litlun might have been dreaming but it does not cover the fear. The “beastie” still exists and they still fear it even though the leaders (Jack/Ralph/Piggy) seem to disagree.

     As they build the fire by using Piggy’s glasses, Golding might be showing the intellectual level of mankind. Smart living beings for sure. As Jack continues his harsh behavior on Piggy, Golding might be describing the human nature of treating one another different based on liking. “The conch doesn’t count on top of the mountain so you shut up” (Jack, pg 42). As Jack says this, he is not really breaking the rule instead, interested in putting back his dislike: Piggy. As the fire gets out of control, Piggy back bites saying “You got your small fire all right” (pg 44) Golding shows how people tend to pull off each other’s legs. Blaming each other and finding other’s mistakes has always been a major part of humanity which Golding repeats over and over by collisions and disputes between the boys.

     When the boys go to hunt and explore the island, Piggy stays behind with the littluns which he clearly doesn’t want to. Golding describes human desire as of how important it plays its role in day to day life. “How would I with them littluns running around like insects?” (Piggy, pg 46) Golding describes how people hate talking responsibilities that they don’t like even though they have to. Piggy, even though having his own disadvantages still has a very good quality in him of intelligence. Even being so, he denies fulfilling the responsibility because he did not get to do what he wanted to. Humans stand strong by their desires and are lead where it leads them to. Golding shows this repeatedly all along the book by using the idea of the boys sticking to what they think is right.

     As the dispute starts to begin between Ralph and Jack about as to what is more important either the shelter or the meat, Golding shows how we all stick to our own understanding. As Jack roars “We want meat”; Ralph reasons out and still believe in his shelters replying “We want shelter” (pg 51). Golding shows how beliefs lead people in different ways. Now, Jack and Ralph have basically divided their roads into different paths and no longer care for the fear of each other. Before, they did, so they stuck to each other at least pretending to be ok with each other but now, they have decided to walk their own paths.

     Now, despite disputes, the two are still together in the same group. The idea of hunting has struck deep into each and every one of them as killing. They don’t quite realize it but it emerges out as the beastie that they are really starting to fear. “If it rains like when we dropped in we’ll need shelters all right. And then another thing. We need shelter cause of the ---“ (Ralph, pg 52) Golding is trying to explain how beliefs even though untrue or of the little, still affect the higher levels in one way or the other. Ralph strongly believes shelters are needed due to the weather, but now, he also mentions the beastie to support the idea of building shelters.

     As Jack describes how his hunting campaign is going on, Ralph starts getting frustrated with the idea. He does want food but seeing how Jack cannot think of anything else than killing pigs gets him angry. Not being to keep it within, he says “ I was talking about smoke! Don’t you want to be rescued? All you can talk about is pig, pig, pig!” (Ralph, pg 54) This way Golding describes the potential thinking of mankind as to where they are being lead.

     Jack now starts to paint his face. As Golding describes this happening, he clearly shows the savage side of humanity that there is. Maybe it was frustration that made Jack become like that, but by now, he clearly sees that only a fight is going to bring an end to all his problems. “For hunting. Like in the war. You know – dazzle paint. Like things trying to look like something else. Like moths on a tree trunk.” (Jack, pg 63) Now, he diverts himself to be a savage wild animal. Golding shows him as a character that doesn’t think civilization is going to take him any further. With his savage ways, he proves himself to be a rough wild survivor.

     The story progresses as Piggy continues coming up with new ideas for the island. He now thinks they could all make sun dials so that they could have tract of the time. “I’ve been thinking about a clock. We could make a sundial. We could put a stick in the sand, and then –“ (Piggy, pg 64) Piggy seems a character of science. His deeds prove that everything that he reasons out has a scientific explanation behind it. They are in the low level of survival and as Ralph hears his ideas, he obviously gets angry at Piggy because there seems to be things that are a lot more important to him. Strongly disagreeing with Piggy, he replies “And an airplane, and a TV set and a steam engine.” (pg 64) Ralph believes in being more reasonable then scientific; Piggy in the other hand is completely scientific who doesn’t quite know how to survive the savage way.

     The hunters go for hunting and they let the fire go out. They were the ones responsible for the fire but as they went hunting, they let it go. A ship had come but since the fire was out, they didn’t get any signal. The boys could not get rescued. “They let the bloody fire go out” represents major disappointment due to lack of seriousness of play from the other side. Golding shows that people being social live together as social beings but they don’t quite go along all the time as to lack of interest etc. As he patiently awaits Jack’s arrival to tell him what he has done, Jack in the other hand seems to have accomplished his mission. He is very happy and feels proud that he finally killed a pig. He is not only feeling happy because they got the food, now as they get the food, he has finally proved himself brave. Now he has finally thought that he is in “higher” possession. He tells Ralph “.. you should have seen it” (pg 69) showing high dignity for himself. Piggy partially agrees with Ralph’s reasonable thinking. He indirectly rebels saying” You and your blood Jack Merribew! You and your hunting! We might have gone home” (pg 70).

As Jack doesn’t get expected reactions from the boys awaiting in camp, he fiercely says “Eat! Damn You! .. Take it!.. I got you meat” (pg 74) His disappointment is clearly about not being able to be above all. He thinks of himself as the “Great one” as Golding describes. He clearly has more problems making others think so instead of actually proving what he has to. Not pride that speaks but the feeling of greatness that mankind always seeks out for. Powerful leaders down the pages of history controlling everything under them, even thoughts that linger between the lines even though it be right or wrong. May it be Adolf Hitler or “Me” as he controlled everyone he saw, I seem to have control over myself as to where I take my steps. As Golding described, realized I was another human, just like the rest.

     “Kill the pig! Cut her throat! Bash her in!” Joy and happiness in someone else’s pain as humans seem to fulfill their wants. Golding tries conveying the message that we humans are very shallow creatures and have that deep evil in us not only limited to needs but to greed and fake happiness that we seem to get. Like, as he describes, the killing of the pig didn’t end there when the pig died, the celebration of the kill, the happiness of the food. The sad soul. What a disgrace!

     As Golding describes the harsh characteristics of Roger (and others), he shows us how we humans tend to feel like “a bird let out from a cage” when we get to do what we please. The bird just flies, doesn’t care where or when, it just wants to spread out its wings and glide in the air as it is supposed to; as it wants it. Roger basically just brings out all that he is kept from doing back in his England school life. All the aggression, deeds that are just to cause others harm etc. are clearly showing how we humans tend to have a self centered thinking of our deep wants doing things that might have made a big negative difference in other’s life but not making much or any difference in our life as long as our wish is fulfilled."There was a space round Henry, perhaps six yards in diameter, into which he [Roger] dare not throw. Here, invisible yet strong, was the taboo of the old life." As Golding describes this, I think he shows the rules that are present in the society that may not be strong but rules that make you live life in a certain way. Roger had been punished in the past for misdeeds which still stays actively alive within him even though now there isn’t much that seems to stand in his way. He still does his deeds, he still flies, but with his eyes open, incase a hawk or an eagle hunts him down, his inner voice: his memories.

     As the beastie belief strengthens between the heads, the leaders (Ralph & Jack) strongly try to convince the boys that nothing called the beastie even exists. They are not even sure about they themselves, so the beastie topic strengthens itself. “Wev’ got to talk about….. be happy” (pg 82) shows the boys trying to convince the littluns. After a hard convincing period, Jack obviously seems to get impatient about the beastie. He himself is not being able to get the thought out of the boys and neither does he have a strong belief that it doesn’t exist. As Maurice says “Daddy said they haven’t found all the animals in the sea yet.” (pg 88), he contributes to the idea that “maybe” the beastie does exist.Jack is somewhat getting frustrated about it and as he shouts “ Serve you right if something did get you, you useless lot of cry babies! But there is no animal”(Jack, pg 83), he shows the intensity of the beastie within them. The evil of their own that is now hunting them.

     A bad ass story telling as Golding does describing Simon’s theory of fear and the beast existing within themselves instead of the island opens the door to the unseen that we fear. “Maybe there is a beast....maybe it's only us.” (Simon, pg 90) Yes, it was only them. Golding clearly (CLEARLY) describes how there can’t be much to fear except for selves as we, humans seem to be one of the most evil living beings. In the story, the boys themselves seem to be the beastie. Not only fear others that are similar, but to a point that we have started fearing ourselves as of what we are all capable of. Evil.

“Perhaps that’s what the beast is – a ghost” (pg 90). The boys have not seen the beastie so far to believe that it exist. They don’t want to be proven that it does. Golding explains the beastie as he shows the conversation. Its like a ghost that exists between them. A fear of evil that they are not so sure of. Sad to know, it’s only them, it’s only them.

As the boys start being more savage and as they do not fulfill their responsibilities Piggy clearly shows his disappointment by questioning the chaos that they are living in. “What are we? Humans? Or animals? Or savages? What’s grown ups going to think?... letting fires out and row.”(Piggy, pg 91) The beastie has now become a major character between them. Deep within, they have slowly all started fearing it, basically thinking about their own deaths. Golding shows Jack as a brave pretender but he too seems to have his own fears about the beastie deep within. The whole beastie idea is basically irritating him with fear. Lets just say shaking him in fear deep within. Outside, he clearly pretends nothing is wrong. Shows how, we have “pretended” things were nor how they actually were specially when you are the leader. “Bollocks to the rules! We’re strong – we hunt! If there’s a beast, we’ll hunt it down! We’ll close in and beat and beat and beat -!”(Jack, pg 91)… or is it “We WISH to beat and beat and beat it!”

As the boys dynamically change from a civilized society to a savage one, it is clear that now, they have become more animal like. Golding describes how circumstances drive people to become how they are. Golding shows how unstable weak living beings humans are, how weak we are. “We will soon be animals anyway.” (Piggy, pg 92) Even realizing where timeline is being lead, Golding shows how there isn’t much that the good has been able to do. Mistakes were made. Yeah right!

Bravery has always been a major part of human history. Greatness or something that humanity is magnetized to. As Ralph finally continues to go on even though the others don’t think it’s a good idea, he says “ Be sucking my thumb next” (pg 109); Golding clearly explains the bravery passion of mankind. Ralph might not have done it for bravery; maybe he had his own reasons but that is what Golding is trying to show by the statement.

As conflicts over lap each other between the boys, once in a while, they play serious jokes. Yes, they laugh to it and it’s funny, but there is that serious angle that you can read the line. Golding shows faith of humanity. Miracles as we call it. Something that might not even exist and we know it well and we still believe in it, maybe just to feel better. “Got a ship in your pocket?” (Ralph, pg 111) Humanity in a great mystery. We can’t really comprehend the human mind, it’s just different ways of looking at it. As it goes “A human mind is too complicated for it to understand itself.” Jack in the other hand sometimes tend to get away from that fear. His jokes clearly stand a strong base. As he jokingly says “Use a littluns” (pg 115); instead of a pig, we can clearly conclude it’s a practical joke being played. He always hated the littluns and it wouldn’t really be big deal. A serious joke? Even towards the ending, Ralph joking tells Piggy “You write a letter to your auntie.” Yes, they were all jokes, but we can clearly sense the seriousness as if it was to happen for real. Jack wouldn’t mind killing a littluns, and nothing better than getting rescued can be thought as we think of Ralph.

Jack is basically tired of how things are being done. He is just sick of it and now, he chooses to start a new tribe. Its not a sport being played, but the game can be clearly seen. He wants his new “tribe” to be fun, food and pleasure. He sets his own road as he says “Im not going to play any longer. Not with you.” (Jack, pg 127) Even though, first he doesn’t get support, he is determined and it might represent that certain group of people who want things their way who really don’t have it but still have a belief in them to get going. May it be with tears in the eyes as in Jack’s or hand cuffs on the hands of some, faith never dies if it is true.

Golding signals the beastie in Jack now. Its something like a parallel connection between him and the beastie. “Forget the beast” (pg 133) He knows what the beast means to him and where it will get him, can’t change it? Forget it!

Humans, well known for raping everything their way for their needs: the killing of the mother pig scene. Now, here, Golding proves himself the God of literature. A beautiful piece representing so many ideas that readers now get to a point that they get lost. As he describes the killing of the mother pig scene, he shows so much of humanity. From the very beginning of the journey, he first describes the beauty. Blushed in maternal bliss.. its beautiful. Now, as we get back to the pages of history, we have not once, not twice but repeatedly screwed up over and over again. Golding basically takes us on a rollercoaster defining so many things. One of the things that I think he tries to show is that the beginning and the ending of the pig. Meaning like, what mankind has done to it. They kill the mother pig, clearly cutting out their own food source. Does not stay there. A mother’s death infront of her children? Golding somehow seems to be able to describe. I can only think of one simple way to explain it. “The murder of your parents, in front of you.” As they kill the mother pig, Golding throws out signals that killing of the pig wasn’t just limited to food. For Jack, it was greatness. For the others, it might have been an act of bravery to kill the biggest pig. Generally concluding maybe its not just limited to wants. People enjoy evil? “Right up her ass!” (pg 136) and as the boys laugh off the pain of the pig, is it even real? The likeness of evil deep within. The joy of misdeeds, the joy of other’s pain. They are the “beastie” and we are the “beast”.

One of Jack’s major wants have been now completed. Now, the boys respect him, the biggest pig has been killed. Fear doesn’t fade away just like that. The Beastie still lingers around his head while he plans to sacrifice the head of the pig to the beastie, as a gift. Two different ways that Golding tries to explain Jack. Maybe he was scared enough to actually lay himself below the beast or that now, the beastie was something he liked until and unless it harmed him. A gift to the beastie, for mutual understanding and alliance? Hmmm, maybe, but I’m too deep, so don’t trust my words.

As Simon encounters the pig’s head, he has this imaginary conversation with the pig’s head. As the beast speaks to him, he cannot comprehend the truth for a little while and replies “Pig’s head on a stick” (Simon, pg 143). Golding now uses his imaginary ideas to directly define the beast. “Fancy thinking that Beast was something you could hunt and kill!... You knew it, didn’t you?... what they are” (lord of the flies : the dead pig’s head, pg 143). Golding basically uses Simon as a character who is God like. This conversation that he has might represent a direct connection to nature that he has. Even as he dies, nature is linked to him. Golding explains the beast. The beast does not even exist. It is just a fear within them and it is something that they cannot remove unless they kill a real beast and satisfy themselves with the success of eliminating the fear of the beast from their life.(Golding is smart!)

As the remaining boys in the democratic/civilized start having a hard time, Piggy says “ I got a pain in my head. I wish the air was cooler.. I wish the rain would come” Golding shows how we are sometimes left out with choices that we cant decide on and as best in our knowledge, we choose what we think is best. Like, in this case, if the rain came, they wouldn’t have any place to stay because their shelters were already destroyed. But the tension rising in the environment might have cooled down if there was this sudden chilly weather change. Golding is indirectly trying to explain hard choices related to humanity as a living being with intelligence capable of choosing right and wrong with logical reasoning and factual evidence.

Now as the boys feast, their rhyme changes to “Kill the beast, cut his throat, spill his blood” (pg 152) Golding writes confusingly as he drops too many types of ideas into the readers head. One moment you are thinking of something and the next, you are thinking of something else. Now Golding once more rises the savage side in humanity determined to take down what stays in their way. Maybe they were now confident that they could or they were just shouting out their frustrations deep within them.

As Piggy boldly stands to get back his glasses, when the two are not optimistically supportive, he says “Like a girl” (pg 172) Golding strongly tries to show the sex discrimination by people in the history of mankind. Girls were thought and understood to be weak, men being better etc. One of the major mistakes that Golding flashes out in a 3 worded sentence. Wrong, Wrong, Wrong! We are all equal.

     The story ends sad with Simon, a littlun and Piggy already dead in the progress of Ralph’s. Tears drop when that short second redefines all that happened in a complete different way. The boys are now rescued and so is Golding, done with his explanation, a plantation of education not through starvation.

     Lord of the flies is a really strong metaphor based book which takes the reader into a deep journey of they themselves. Golding has really done a great job defining humanity into a model world as the island. Its been great reading the book and I definitely want to give a big thumbs up on it.