The Lord Of The Flies

The Lord of the Flies “The Lord of the flies” by William Golding describes the transition of a band of young children from civilized to savage. It outlines a pessimistic view that seems to show that man is naturally tied to society, and without it, we would likely return to primitiveness. The main idea of the text revolves around the involution of the human spirit and the effect that it has upon the environment. The scar made by the boys symbolizes the spot that humans leave in a pure place- the untouched jungle. It also represents the beginning of a series of destruction. The boys find themselves in an unknown territory and try to keep a balance between things by making rules. These regulations keep their conscience connected with the society they once lived in, while the man who parachuted down from the sky has the same effect. He represents the victim of a war similar to the one they are in throughout the story. The two “leaders”, Jack and Ralph symbolize the different sides of a person. On one hand there is Jack, who from the beginning until the end is in a continuous dehumanization, revealing a wild side by appealing to savage actions. He ties up and beats a boy to outline his” power”, while his courage is given by the paint which covers his face. At the beginning he oscillates, but as “the beast” inside grows, the mask becomes present at all times. This takes control over his mind and body, providing the strength to kill an animal and further on fight for what can be called the ultimate thread of civilization: Piggy’s glasses. They are the only way through which the boys can ignite the fire which represents a light on humanity, a sparkle of hope that ties them to the real world, The specs symbolize knowledge present in a rough society where Piggy is the one who reveals what the Beast they are all afraid of really is: “It’s only us”. This underlines that each of them has a “monster” inside and also the dual nature of the human being. Ralph, on the other hand, is characterized by order and democracy. He is realistic and comprehends the situation they are in, trying to preserve a somewhat cultured atmosphere by imposing rules. However, Piggy and Simon are the only ones who are not lured by the forbidden and stick by his side, trying to preserve the fire that will finally lead to their rescue. The fact that Ralph ponders about their appearance outlines a civilized outlook and behaviour, contrary to the one Jack shows. While some of the boys are near the step to regression, Jack is down to his ears, having no possibility of going back. The constant “battle” between him and Ralph becomes a fight for territory where Jack succeeds in “feeding” his need for possession. He takes over Castle Rock and the minds of several boys, among whom some are controlled by the fear of being tortured like the boy imprisoned. For that reason, in the end the twins disclose Ralph’s hiding place to Jack. This highlights the fact that the loss of civilization led them to lose any sense of loyalty to others. Their rescue by a naval officer is a symbol of the order present in the world they came from, emphasizing its lack on the island. All in all, it can be said that William Golding has succeeded in presenting numerous themes and ideas that make the reader wonder. Society holds everyone together. Had it not been for these conditions, our ideals and principles would have been lost. Without the strict rules of the society, chaos can break lose and undermine our refined point of view.