Lord of the Flies Group

Question:

justwonderin
justwonderin
Student
High School - 9th Grade

Why is it important that the boys in Lord of the Flies are British?

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Posted by justwonderin on Monday April 27, 2009 at 3:36 PM and tagged with british boys, lord of the flies.

Answers:

  1. uniden56
    uniden56 Student
    High School - 12th Grade

    Because at the time the book was written, people thought the British were the best behaved people around the world, which is kinda ironic because... i'll let you figure why its ironic.

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    Posted by uniden56 on Monday April 27, 2009 at 4:56 PM

  2. dbrooks22
    dbrooks22 Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    I don't know that it is important that the boys are British. The book was first published in England, but other than that, the theme of the novel can pertain to any nationality.

    The theme is the inherent evil in man and the brutal capability that lies within each person. It is also about the importance of rules in society and what would happen if that structure were to be lost or thrown away. This is shown throughout the novel as the boys progressively embrace their inner beast and dismiss the laws of society.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/flies/

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    Posted by dbrooks22 on Monday April 27, 2009 at 7:38 PM

  3. eabettencourt
    eabettencourt Teacher
    High School - 10th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    It is very important that the boys are British.  Golding includes several moments in the book that involve the boys discussing how the British are best at everything, or how British adults would behave, etc.  First of all, it allows for even more of a downfall when the boys' inherent savagery emerges because, like it or not, we're not expecting this behavior from a group of private school British boys.  Even the shedding of their uniforms piece by piece is symbolically effective (more so than if they were not wearing uniforms to begin with).  Secondly, Golding is making a commentary on the British involvement in war during this time period.  he is potentially poking some jibes at the British and at the assumption that they are the best at everything, always remaining proper and dignified.  Golding's own experiences in the war taught him a lot about the inherent evil within us all.

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    Posted by eabettencourt on Tuesday April 28, 2009 at 8:56 AM

  4. jpshank
    jpshank Student
    High School - 10th Grade

    I would like to add that these are not only British private school boys, but Jack and his tribe, which are obviously the most savage of any in the book, are choir boys also and choir boys are generally portrayed as sweet and innocent especially when they are young.

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    Posted by jpshank on Sunday May 3, 2009 at 2:16 PM