Themes: The Politics of Civilization vs. Savagery
One of the main themes present throughout Lord of the Flies is the nature of power and how humans acquire and use it. Stranded on the island, the boys quickly respond to the problems of gaining, exerting, and balancing power. Free of adult supervision and faced with the mechanics of surviving as a society within the island environment, they devise both a system of social order and a means of asserting control over the landscape. In the social sphere, two methods of distributing power come to the forefront: a democracy, led by Ralph, advised by Piggy, and mediated by the conch shell; and an autocracy, constructed by the tyrannical Jack, supported by Roger, and governed by fear. As the novel unfolds, political power seeps from democracy to autocracy as Jack begins his own tribe and lures more and more boys away from Ralph’s reasoned rule.
The relationship between autocracy and democracy is further explored through the conflict between civilization and savagery, order and chaos, which plays out most evidently in the conflict between Ralph and Jack: Ralph represents civilization and order; Jack, savagery and chaos. When the boys arrive on the island, they assert the importance of rescue and unanimously desire to return to the civilized world, electing Ralph as chief and maintaining a signal fire. However, Golding’s thesis while writing Lord of the Flies was that humans are naturally inclined towards chaos, hedonism, and savagery. Ralph and Piggy’s democratic society is quickly overwhelmed by the fear and inherent savagery in the boys, who prefer the immediate gratification of hunting and playing over building shelters or maintaining a fire.
Ralph and Jack also respond to the threats of the landscape in different ways, offering different political solutions to their collective situation. Ralph’s power comes from democratic ideals and shared purposes, such as the signal fire. Jack manipulates the boys’ negative feelings and offers them a chance to fight back against their fears through hunting. Unlike Ralph, who attempts to rationalize the beast, Jack recognizes the potential of fear as a tool for controlling the other boys, and he takes full advantage. This recognition establishes the relationship between emotions and power, which Jack uses to turn himself into a successful demagogue. As the novel progresses, Jack’s fear-based rhetoric gains more and more influence. Whereas power was originally derived from cooperation and democracy, fear becomes the primary source of power on the island.
There is the power struggle, too, between the boys and their environment. They discover early on that they can alter the landscape, accidentally sending the jungle up in flames. The hunting of pigs offers another arena in which the boys, particularly Jack, can exert dominance. The subjugation of nature becomes an outlet through which the boys express their frustrations and feelings of powerlessness. Even the littluns savor their newfound dominion over the natural world, highlighting the universal desire for power and control.
Throughout Lord of the Flies, Golding aligns civilization and order with good and savagery and chaos with evil, portraying Ralph and Piggy as reasonable and sympathetic and Jack and his tribe as violent and destructive. However, even Ralph and Piggy, the allegorical representatives of democracy and reason, succumb to their more savage instincts when they take part in the murder of Simon, the allegorical representative of morality and goodness. The implication is that civilization and order are merely façades behind which savagery and chaos reign supreme. The atomic war happening in the “world of grown-ups” further emphasizes this idea, as the longed-for civilization is plagued by the same violence and brutality that overtakes the boys on the island. Even though the boys are rescued by grown-ups, the question remains as to whether “civilization” is truly civilized.
Expert Q&A
What is the naval officer's reaction upon finding the boys in Lord of the Flies?
The naval officer reacts with ignorance and disappointment upon finding the boys in Lord of the Flies. He initially thinks they are playing games and is shocked when Ralph mentions the deaths. The officer expects better behavior from British boys and dismisses Ralph's explanations, comparing their situation to the novel The Coral Island, tragically misinterpreting their sinister experience.
What are some real-world or novel-based connections to dehumanizing relationships in Lord of the Flies?
Dehumanizing relationships in "Lord of the Flies" include the treatment of the "littluns" as a group rather than individuals, similar to workplace dehumanization where employees are seen as roles rather than people. Piggy's mistreatment and the violent acts by Jack's followers mirror bullying and historical regimes that dehumanize citizens. The murders of Simon and Piggy highlight how dehumanization enables violence. These examples warn against ignoring individual humanity, advocating for respect and kindness.
How does the characters' private school upbringing impact Lord of the Flies?
The characters' private school upbringing in Lord of the Flies impacts the story by fostering behaviors like merciless teasing, as seen with Piggy, and initial judgments based on appearance, such as Ralph's election as leader. Their boarding school experience made them self-sufficient, though they soon succumb to fear and nightmares. The stark transformation from disciplined schoolboys to savages underscores the novel's themes of civilization versus savagery.
In Lord of the Flies, why does Robert insist on needing a real pig instead of a pretend one?
Robert insists on needing a real pig instead of a pretend one because he was nearly killed when the boys, caught up in the frenzy of hunting, attacked him while he pretended to be the pig. This incident, which occurs in Chapter 7, highlights the boys' descent into savagery and the breakdown of social order, as even Ralph, a symbol of civilization, participates in the violence. Robert's suggestion underscores the danger of their unchecked primal instincts.
What arguments oppose punishing the boys in Golding's Lord of the Flies for Simon's death upon returning to civilization?
What are the Dionysian and Apollonian perspectives in Lord of the Flies by Golding?
Ralph and Jack: Contrasting Leadership, Behaviors, and Themes in "Lord of the Flies"
In Lord of the Flies, Ralph and Jack embody contrasting leadership styles and priorities. Ralph prioritizes civilization, focusing on building shelters and maintaining a signal fire for rescue, demonstrating democratic and empathetic leadership. He values structure and considers the well-being of all, including the littluns. Jack, in contrast, prioritizes hunting and immediate gratification, embodying an authoritarian style that emphasizes power and emotional appeal. This fundamental conflict between their visions leads to tension and division among the boys.
Contrasting Portrayals and Reactions to Deaths in Lord of the Flies
In Lord of the Flies, the deaths of Simon and Piggy highlight the boys' descent into savagery. Simon, a Christ-like figure, is mistakenly killed by the boys in a frenzied mob, symbolizing the loss of innocence and moral clarity. Piggy, representing intellect and reason, is deliberately murdered by Roger, marking the end of civilization on the island. Ralph is deeply shaken by Simon's death, acknowledging it as murder, while Piggy tries to rationalize it as an accident. Both deaths are foreshadowed by earlier events, such as Roger's stone-throwing and the boys' increasing violence.
The significance of the boys' British nationality and their descriptions in Lord of the Flies
The boys' British nationality in Lord of the Flies is significant because it contrasts their descent into savagery with their civilized upbringing. Their descriptions as proper and well-mannered emphasize the dramatic transformation they undergo on the island, highlighting the novel's themes of inherent human savagery and the thin veneer of civilization.
Comparative analysis of isolation, civilization, and common themes in "Lord of the Flies" and "The Coral Island"
Both "Lord of the Flies" and The Coral Island explore themes of isolation and civilization, but they diverge in their portrayal. "Lord of the Flies" depicts the descent into savagery when boys are isolated from society, while The Coral Island presents a more optimistic view, where the boys maintain order and morality. Common themes include survival, human nature, and the impact of environment on behavior.
Justice in William Golding's Lord of the Flies
In Lord of the Flies, justice is portrayed as a fragile and often elusive concept. The boys' descent into savagery demonstrates the breakdown of social order and the loss of moral integrity, leading to arbitrary and violent forms of justice rather than fair and rational ones. The novel suggests that without societal structures, true justice is difficult to maintain.
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