Lord of the Flies Group

Question:

student08
student08
Student
High School - 11th Grade

"Lord of the Flies" is "an attempt to trace the defects of society back to the defects of human nature." What does this mean?

I dont understand. Please help :]

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Posted by student08 on Sunday October 12, 2008 at 3:35 PM and tagged with chapter 8, defects, human nature, lord of the flies, meaning.

Answers:


  1. gbeatty Teacher
    College - Freshman

    Golding said this about his own novel. There is a longstanding argument in philosophy (and politics, and religion, and daily life) as to whether humanity is basically good, and our social structures are what cause us to mistreat one another, or if we are basically flawed or sinful, and the problem lies within us. Rousseau and Marx pointed the finger at society. Golding points at humanity, arguing essentially for human nature, even original sin. You can see this in how the boys are isolated from society and have a chance to create a pure new society from scratch, yet move into violence and persecution. Think of how Ralph calls Piggy Piggy after promising not to. That's just mean, and that's one example of the innate defects of humanity.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/flies/themes
    http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,875144-1...

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    Posted by gbeatty on Sunday October 12, 2008 at 5:15 PM