Today, we’ll be discussing the book that most LHS freshmen will recognize: Lord of the Flies. William Golding’s 1954 novel depicts a group of British schoolboys stranded on a deserted island. In this allegorical classic, readers watch as order breaks down on the island and witness the striking descent from civilized behavior into savagery. Now, what is so significant about this book that makes its title recognizable nationwide?
Firstly, some context. This book was written following World War II, where Golding himself served in the British Royal Navy. It was written during a time when widespread fear of the threat of nuclear destruction was rapidly growing. Golding witnessed first-hand the violence and brutality that humans were capable of in the war and the Holocaust, which is reflected in his beliefs that humans are inherently evil. One of the reasons why this story is so prominent is because of the darkness during the time it was written in. During this time period, pre-war beliefs that humans were innately perfect – as depicted in earlier adventure novels including R.M. Ballantyne’s The Coral Island – were shattered. Golding directly challenged the previous belief about the goodness of mankind, and after seeing such atrocities, Lord of the Flies fueled a long-lasting debate about human nature and the fragility of civilization.
Specifically, in the novel, Golding depicts the innate savagery in all humans. For example, he uses symbols such as the conch, the mask that Jack paints on his face to go hunting, and the beast, to express this dark commentary. In the beginning of the story, the conch that Piggy and Ralph discover becomes a symbol of civility, order, and rules. Whoever holds the conch gets to speak, and the others must listen. However, its destruction, when Roger, Jack, and the other savage hunters push a boulder on top of Piggy, killing him and shattering the conch, marks the complete collapse of civilization, order, and goodness and the island’s plunge into savagery.
Additionally, the beast in the story represents layers of the boys’ descent into brutality. In the beginning, the beast seems to symbolize the fear of what is unknown. The hunters, led by Jack, become determined to hunt down the beast that they fear and rid themselves of it. However, as they delve deeper into their inner darkness, the beast becomes a projection of inner evil and darkness itself. For example, Jack paints his face red, white, and black as he prepares to go kill for the first time. This mask could represent the masks that people wear to hide what they are ashamed of or afraid of. The boys avoided confronting morality by shielding themselves behind these masks and seeming to justify their violent actions.
For high schoolers, this dark narrative is relevant because it shows the fragility of civilization and order. Golding’s allegory depicts how quickly civility can erode when there is no policing figure to keep order. It reveals how, especially in a group setting, it is easy to hide behind a larger group and justify actions that go against our conscience. This novel shows people of all ages the importance of order and moral integrity, but this lesson is especially relevant for impressionable high schoolers. It is hardest to do the right thing when no one is watching, and it is easy to be swayed by peer pressure. However, while violence and brutality may not occur, bullying, scapegoating, and mental health are prominent issues for modern teens. Therefore, it is important for high schoolers to continue to discuss the long-lasting debates about inherent savagery and the fragility of society that are brought to light in Lord of the Flies.
