William Golding Criticism
William Golding, the Nobel Prize-winning author, is celebrated for his profound exploration of human nature and morality through his novels. His works, including the renowned Lord of the Flies, dissect the complexities of humanity by exploring themes like the dichotomy of light and dark within the human soul, the struggle between civilization and primal instincts, and the eternal battle of good versus evil. Golding's unique approach often employs allegory and myth, creating narratives that resonate deeply with readers and critics alike.
Lord of the Flies, perhaps Golding's most famous work, uses the story of boys stranded on a deserted island to illustrate the innate defects of human society reflected in the boys' descent into savagery. This critical examination of civilization versus primal instincts has been compared to the impact of J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye on students, as noted by Gladys Veidemanis. Critics such as Samuel Hynes emphasize the novel's moral vision and religious undertones, which lend it its enduring appeal.
Golding's experiences during World War II had a profound impact on his worldview, infusing his novels with a certain pessimism about human nature. This perspective can be seen in works like Rites of Passage, where the isolated setting aboard a ship creates a microcosm of society, reflecting themes of inherent human darkness, as analyzed by Virginia Tiger. His novels are often described as mythic or fable-like, filled with rich symbolism and allowing for multiple interpretations, despite some criticisms regarding their rigidity, as explored by Stanley Cook and James Stern.
Furthermore, Golding's work like Pincher Martin delves into themes of selfishness and moral blindness, highlighting the paradox of self-awareness without repentance, as examined by Avril Henry. Darkness Visible continues his exploration of good versus evil but is critiqued for its thematic weight by Michael Waterhouse and William Boyd. Golding's literature, despite its often grim themes, is seen as inherently optimistic, as his intent was to help readers understand their own humanity, a sentiment echoed by Peter M. Axthelm.
His legacy is further cemented by works like Free Fall, where he explores themes of freedom and guilt with religious undertones, and The Inheritors, which critiques the neohumanist view by portraying innate violence as a universal trait, not a societal construct, as discussed by Lawrence R. Ries. Despite venturing into essays with A Moving Target, his acclaim largely stems from the powerful moral inquiries embedded within his novels. Thus, Golding's literary contributions continue to challenge readers, inviting them to ponder the complexities of human consciousness and morality.
Contents
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Golding, William (Vol. 17)
- Louis J. Halle
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English Schoolboys in the Jungle
(summary)
In the following essay, James Stern contends that William Golding's "Lord of the Flies" is a masterfully written allegory that critiques the superficiality of civilization, while also questioning the novel's premise regarding the boys' isolation and highlighting Piggy as a pivotal character embodying both intellect and tragic irony.
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The Fables of William Golding
(summary)
In the following essay, John Peter critiques William Golding's use of fable as a narrative form, arguing that while Golding's works like "Lord of the Flies," "The Inheritors," and "The Two Deaths of Christopher Martin" are powerful and incisive, they sometimes suffer from overt explicitness and limitations inherent in the fable form, though they demonstrate significant artistic achievement.
- Norman Podhoretz
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Secret Parables
(summary)
In the following essay, V. S. Pritchett argues that William Golding's novels, particularly Lord of the Flies, explore the essence of human pain and communal destruction through intense visual storytelling, avoiding allegorical simplicity while highlighting the primitive instincts and evolving consciousness of humanity.
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Books: Coral Islands
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In the following essay, Frank Kermode explores William Golding's use of boyhood myths in "Lord of the Flies," emphasizing the themes of human consciousness, guilt, and inherent evil, while highlighting the connections between "Lord of the Flies," "The Inheritors," and "Pincher Martin" in addressing human redemption.
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To See What Men Might Be
(summary)
In the following essay, Mary Renault argues that William Golding's work, particularly in "Free Fall," examines the potential for human redemption through self-awareness and the arduous journey of confronting one's own choices, ultimately offering a somber yet authoritative hope against the background of human fallibility.
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The World of William Golding
(summary)
In the following essay, Peter Green argues that William Golding's novels, primarily concerned with the theological theme of man's relationship to the universe and God, utilize traditional Christian symbolism to explore the moral dimensions of human nature, particularly the concepts of original sin, innocence, and the inherent evil within humanity.
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Since 1950: 'Lord of the Flies'
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In the following essay, C. B. Cox argues that William Golding's "Lord of the Flies" masterfully uses allegory and religious symbolism to convey the profound importance of human experiences, portraying the tension between civilization and primal instincts through vivid narrative and character development, although with some weaknesses in its symbolic elements.
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An Unheroic Hero: William Golding's 'Pincher Martin'
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In the following essay, Michael Quinn examines William Golding's novel Pincher Martin, arguing that it represents the author's exploration of existential themes, portraying the protagonist's struggle for survival as an allegory for the human condition and elucidating the moral and philosophical questions surrounding autonomy, identity, and the metaphysics of suffering.
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Recent Fiction, Part I: 'The Inheritors'
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In the following essay, Terry Southern critiques William Golding's novel The Inheritors, arguing that while Golding is an exceptionally original writer, his attempt to depict the experience of a Neanderthal man may have been overly ambitious and potentially alienating for readers.
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'Lord of the Flies' Goes to College
(summary)
In the following essay, Warnke assesses the appeal of Golding's work among college students, attributing its allure to intense action, pessimism, and symbolism, but predicts its popularity will not rival or endure like Salinger's.
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God's Folly
(summary)
In the following essay, V. S. Pritchett critiques William Golding's novels for their tendency towards chaotic symbolism and introspection, arguing that while Golding excels in capturing the intersection of human consciousness and nature in works like "Pincher Martin," he falters when his narratives become overly mystical, as exemplified by "The Spire."
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Dream and the Plumb Line
(summary)
In the following essay, Nigel Dennis argues that William Golding's novel "The Spire" exemplifies the author's masterful integration of symbolism, style, and conviction, though he cautions that its romantic elements might not withstand the test of time.
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The Case for William Golding
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In the following essay, Frank Kermode explores William Golding's The Spire as a complex meditation on vision, art, and religious motifs, characterized by its intense prose and personal vision, ultimately viewing it as a powerful, albeit demanding, work that transcends conventional interpretations.
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Reader's Choice: 'The Spire'
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In the following essay, William Barrett explores the complex themes within William Golding's The Spire, highlighting its ominous portrayal of human nature, the ambiguity of faith, and the intricate interplay of style and substance in Golding's prose.
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'Lord of the Flies': Fool's Gold?
(summary)
In the following essay, R. C. Townsend critiques Golding's Lord of the Flies for its heavy-handed symbolism and manipulation of narrative to assert a pessimistic view of human nature, suggesting that Golding relies on reader inattention to convey a message that exploits both the characters and the audience's willingness to accept facile conclusions.
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'Lord of the Flies' in the Classroom—No Passing Fad
(summary)
In the following essay, Gladys Veidemanis examines the enduring appeal of William Golding's Lord of the Flies among adolescents and college students, highlighting its capacity to provoke meaningful inquiries into human nature, society, and morality while providing a fusion of realism and allegory that resonates with young readers' personal experiences and perspectives.
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Ancient Egyptian
(summary)
In the following essay, Ricks critiques Golding's The Hot Gates for its lack of imagination and engagement, arguing that while the essays are mostly ineffectual and trivial, they occasionally gain interest when they connect to Golding's novels, particularly highlighting the contrast between the vitality of The Lord of the Flies and the commentary 'Fable'.
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Mute Choirboys and Angelic Pigs: The Fable in 'Lord of the Flies'
(summary)
In the following essay, O'Hara critiques "Lord of the Flies" for its perceived failure to accurately reflect our world, arguing that Golding's use of children in his allegory undermines its intended criticism of society and rather inadvertently defends societal structure by attributing the failure of the utopian experiment to childish flaws.
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The Case against William Golding's Simon-Piggy
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In the following essay, Harry H. Taylor contends that while William Golding's "Lord of the Flies" attempts to balance rationality and mysticism through Piggy and Simon, the author ultimately favors a rational worldview, leading to a lack of coherence and diminishing the impact of Simon's symbolic role.
- D. W. Crompton
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Insights in the Margins
(summary)
In the following essay, Roderick Nordell critiques William Golding's novel "The Pyramid," noting its departure from mythmaking to a more realistic narrative, and arguing that while the novel superficially explores deeper themes and personal introspection, it ultimately remains shallow compared to Golding's earlier works.
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Power and Authority: An Interpretation of Golding's 'Lord of the Flies'
(summary)
In the following essay, David Spitz critiques William Golding's "Lord of the Flies," arguing that while Golding illuminates the inherent evil within human nature, he falls short of proving his case by overlooking the impact of societal conditioning on the boys' behavior and failing to account for cultural variations.
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Modern Authors: William Golding
(summary)
In the following essay, Stanley Cook critiques William Golding's literary achievements, emphasizing "Lord of the Flies" as a profound exploration of human nature through allegory, while highlighting Golding's persistent themes of original sin and moral complexity across his oeuvre, despite occasional criticism of his realist detail.
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The Decline of 'Lord of the Flies'
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In the following essay, James R. Baker contends that the decline in popularity of William Golding's Lord of the Flies reflects a broader cultural shift away from literary modernism, attributing this to contemporary society's discomfort with the novel's tragic worldview and its critique of naive optimism about human nature and social progress.
- P. N. Furbank
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'Will' and 'Idea' in 'Lord of the Flies'
(summary)
In the following essay, A. C. Capey argues that William Golding's Lord of the Flies is marred by cynicism and a limited vision of human nature, and suggests that its educational value rather than its literary merit accounts for its acclaim.
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Golding's 'Free Fall'
(summary)
In the following essay, James Acheson argues that in William Golding's novel Free Fall, Samuel Mountjoy's narrative serves as a confession of his abuse of free will, contrasting with Golding's broader parable about freedom, redemption, and the restoration of artistic vision through spiritual enlightenment.
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Golding's Punkish People
(summary)
In the following essay, Ronald Blythe examines William Golding's Darkness Visible, emphasizing the novel's exploration of the moral decay and behavioral squalor of contemporary society, as personified through its compelling characters Matty and Sophy, and highlighting Golding's intricate depiction of the modern world's increasing infantilization.
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Ignoble Ruin
(summary)
In the following essay, Paul Ableman criticizes William Golding's Darkness Visible, arguing that the novel begins with a compelling and imaginative narrative but ultimately devolves into incoherence and tedium as Golding attempts to address global issues, resulting in a fragmented and unsatisfactory conclusion.
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Golding Beats the Devil
(summary)
In the following essay, John Calvin Batchelor examines William Golding's "Darkness Visible" as a culmination of thematic elements from his prior works, asserting that Golding, through intricate characterization and a syncretistic Christian imagery, explores themes of human depravity, entropy, and redemption, ultimately suggesting a triumph of faith over despair.
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Books and Arts: 'Darkness Visible'
(summary)
In the following essay, Joyce Carol Oates critiques William Golding's novel Darkness Visible for its melodramatic plot, unconvincing characters, and flaccid prose, arguing that its pessimistic theology and allegorical style overshadow its potential as a serious, sympathetic narrative.
- Golding, William (Vol. 3)
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Golding, William (Vol. 10)
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Peter M. Axthelm
(summary)
In the following essay, Peter M. Axthelm discusses how Golding's "Free Fall" uses the protagonist's quest for understanding and redemption to explore themes of freedom, guilt, and the possibility of constructing meaning amidst life's disintegration, reflecting on the novel's religious undertones and its place within Golding's broader literary exploration of man's inherent fallibility.
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William Golding: Island
(summary)
In the following essay, Jean E. Kennard discusses how William Golding's novels explore themes of human consciousness, loss of innocence, and spiritual decline, utilizing allegorical characters and intricate techniques, including dense metaphorical language, to connect individual experiences to broader cultural and philosophical questions.
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The Pattern of 'Pincher Martin'
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In the following essay, Avril Henry examines the complex flashback structure in William Golding's Pincher Martin, arguing that it serves to reveal the protagonist's moral blindness and self-deception, highlighting the themes of selfishness, responsibility, and the paradox of self-awareness without repentance.
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Wolf Masks: Violence in Contemporary Poetry
(summary)
In the following essay, Lawrence R. Ries argues that William Golding's novels, notably "Lord of the Flies" and "The Inheritors," critique the neohumanist view by exploring the innate violence and ignorance in human nature, portraying these traits as universal rather than shaped solely by societal conditions.
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Peter M. Axthelm
(summary)
- Golding, William (Vol. 1)
- Golding, William (Vol. 8)
- Golding, William (Vol. 2)
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Golding, William (Gerald)
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Sheer Panic of Being Human
(summary)
In the following essay, Edward Blishen argues that William Golding's Rites of Passage skillfully combines his recurring themes of social hierarchy and human nature, depicting the blindness of the privileged through the character of Edmund Talbot, while showcasing Golding’s wit and exploring the monstrous potential within humanity.
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William Golding: Voyage to the Center of the Self
(summary)
In the following essay, Robertson Davies argues that William Golding's novels are distinguished by their engagement with moral problems through a religious yet unsentimental perspective, evident in works like "Rites of Passage," where Golding's professionalism and nuanced character portrayals enable profound insights into human nature and social snobbery.
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Golding's Secret Element of Gusto
(summary)
In the following essay, Michael Waterhouse critiques William Golding's novel Darkness Visible for its lack of coherent direction and moral clarity, contrasting it with Rites of Passage, which he views as more successfully reconciling narrative complexity and moral ambiguity within a structured setting.
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Mariner and Albatross
(summary)
In the following essay, William Boyd argues that William Golding's novels, particularly Rites of Passage, skillfully balance myth and narrative, exploring profound human themes through a blend of historical realism and mythological allegory, though some works, like Darkness Visible, struggle under thematic weight, highlighting Golding's complex literary evolution.
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Half-light
(summary)
In the following essay, David Montrose argues that William Golding's collection, A Moving Target, while often overshadowed by the author's reputation, is notable for its rich historical sensibility in travel writings and insightful essays on personal subjects, although some sections lack intrinsic merit and are primarily valued for Golding's authorship.
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Cantles
(summary)
In the following essay, Frank Kermode evaluates William Golding's literary journey post-Lord of the Flies, highlighting his unique blend of intensity and remoteness in subsequent works, and portraying Golding as a "conservative anarchist" whose novels, imbued with a mystical quality, seek to reveal hidden truths through artistic creation.
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The Later Golding
(summary)
In the following essay, Ian Gregor and Mark Kinkead-Weeks explore William Golding's mastery of narrative technique and thematic depth in "Rites of Passage," emphasizing the novel's vivid societal microcosm, its complex use of language, and its underlying ambiguity that challenges readers to reconsider their interpretations, contrasting it with the darker exploration in "Darkness Visible."
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William Golding's 'Wooden World': Religious Rites in 'Rites of Passage'
(summary)
In the following essay, Virginia Tiger analyzes William Golding's use of ideographic structure and narrative techniques in his novels, particularly 'Rites of Passage,' to explore complex spiritual themes and implicate readers in the moral and existential questions his characters face, ultimately highlighting the dualities of human nature.
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A Pragmatist and His Public
(summary)
In the following essay, Gabriel Josipovici critiques William Golding's collection "A Moving Target" for reflecting the author's self-regard and a troubling shift from his earlier, profound engagement with themes of grief and incomprehension, to a style that seeks to impress rather than illuminate.
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Grief, Sheer Grief, Grief, Grief
(summary)
In the following essay, Samuel Hynes argues that William Golding stands out as the most intriguing contemporary English novelist due to his unique moral vision and conservative, religious worldview, which defy modern trends and emphasize belief over disenchantment, rendering his work both distinctive and valuable despite his reclusive nature and distaste for modern society.
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Sheer Panic of Being Human
(summary)