Essay about Lord of the Flies Human Savagery - 923 Words

Lord of the Flies Essay Nicholas Wong ENG2D Ms. Ghai March 8, 2012 Task: Does William Golding present a realistic portrayal of how savage humankind can be? Or does he underestimate the goodness in people? Does Golding’s use of WWII as the backdrop have a significant impact on our understanding of human nature? In William Golding’s novel, â€Å"The Lord of the Flies†, he displays human nature in an animalistic viewpoint that is not seen in â€Å"normal† people. He describes the unknown savagery of human beings, without missing the good nature found within us, which allows us to work as a well-organized group. World War Two is also used effectively as a backdrop, since it shows that the violence is found in everyone. The theme of†¦show more content†¦Being used to that environment, it shows how they too are monsters despite being referred to as heroes later on at the end of the war. However, despite all the savagery displayed, Golding shows the goodness in human beings, when the boys are caring for each other’s safety. Most of the boys’ humane personality is displayed during the beginning when they formed a small civilization, chose a leader, and also had rules to abide by. There was also a good relationship between Piggy and Ralph, who had helped each other in difficult and humiliating situations. An example of this is seen when Ralph defends Piggy, when he is laughed at because of his name. Piggy is also seen to be extremely loyal to Ralph. For example, Piggy suggests using the conch as a tool for speaking and a way to call the others for meetings. Piggy also displays his loyalty when he stays by Ralph’s side throughout the book, despite having everyone else abandon him and joining Jack and his hunters. Lastly, the use of WWII as the backdrop for the novel is effective because it shows an accurate comparison of the events. In both cases, violence and killing occur very often. The events that take place in the war can be related to many points mentioned on how humankind is savage. The killing of the sow can easily be related to the accidental or intentional killing of civilians during WWII. In both cases, the killings of innocent people or children in front of others are examples of the inhumanity thatShow MoreRelatedLord Of The Flies : Human Savagery And The Flow Of Power1592 Words   |  7 PagesLord of the Flies is a chilling work about human savagery and the flow of power. Golding uses symbolism, characterization, and description to illustrate the occurrences and the underlying themes in the novel. The work has an ominous but irresistible tone that Golding lays out through his description of the island. Golding makes the island seem sinister and irresistible by writing,† T he shore was fledged with palm trees. These stood or leaned or reclined against the light and their green feathersRead MoreHuman Nature And Savagery In William Goldings Lord Of The Flies1037 Words   |  5 Pagesoff, and anarchy comes in, he shows himself for what he really is. - Arthur Schopenhauer In today’s world, human behaviours are driven by the civilization preset by society. In the rare occasion that the civilization is taken away, humans unveil their true selves: animals with a savage and evil nature. In 1954, after leaving the Royal Navy, William Golding wrote his story Lord of the Flies, which focuses on a group of young boys stranded on an island after their plane crashed. Their experience onRead More The Savagery of Human Nature in William Goldings Lord of the Flies2046 Words   |  9 PagesThe Savagery of Human Nature in William Goldings Lord of the Flies One of several significant incidents in this story is when the hunting group killed the first pig. 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However, he has aRead MoreWilliam Golding s Lord Of The Flies 1299 Words   |  6 PagesKanak Garg Mr. Fraser English 10 Honors, Period 6 19 December 2014 Savagery in Civilization: Symbolism in Lord of the Flies Symbolism as defined by the Merriam Webster Dictionary, is â€Å"the use of symbols to express or represent ideas or qualities in literature, art, etc.† (â€Å"Symbolism†). For this reason, symbolism is utilized in literature in order to make novels more interesting and convey notions that are usually either highly controversial or extremely philosophical. For example in the popularRead More Simon as Silent Prophet of Lord Of The Flies Essay1136 Words   |  5 PagesSimon as Silent Prophet of Lord Of The Flies  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The role of the prophet changes with the society in which he lives. In Modern America, a prophet is a visionary, telling his people what they can become; in Biblical times, a prophet was the voice of God, telling his people what they had to become to fulfill their covenant with God. In William Goldings Lord of the Flies, though, the prophet told his people nothing; he realized what they had already become, and he dared not tell them becauseRead MoreEssay on How Lord of the Flies Related to Aspects of Human Nature1397 Words   |  6 PagesWilliam Goldings novel Lord of the Flies not only provides a profound insight into human nature but also does so in a way that is remarkable for its use of shock and horror. Golding presents aspects of human nature as themes in the book. It alerts us to our potential to descend from order to chaos, good to evil, civilization to savagery. They are explored through how innate evil can be brought out in certain situations, the dangers in not addressing our own fears and the battle between civilization