Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies

by William Goldingby William Golding

William GoldingWilliam Golding• born in 1911 in Cornwall. born in 1911 in Cornwall.

• in World War 2, he joined in World War 2, he joined Royal NavyRoyal Navy

• after the war he after the war he returned to teaching and returned to teaching and began writing novelsbegan writing novels

• 1954 1954 Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies – – first and most successful first and most successful novelnovel

• 1983 awarded Nobel 1983 awarded Nobel prize for Literatureprize for Literature

• died 1993died 1993

Golding wrote the novel after his Golding wrote the novel after his experiences in WW2experiences in WW2

He was horrified by the man’s He was horrified by the man’s cruelty to fellow mancruelty to fellow man

His novel explores the potential for His novel explores the potential for evil in all of usevil in all of us

The Americans dropped an atomic bomb on The Americans dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki and Hiroshima Nagasaki and Hiroshima

Jewish Concentration Jewish Concentration

CampsCamps

Japanese POWJapanese POW

The novel is an allegoryThe novel is an allegory

What does that mean?What does that mean?

• It tells a story on a superficial level It tells a story on a superficial level

• Underneath it has a deeper meaning Underneath it has a deeper meaning and an explicit moral pointand an explicit moral point

• Characters, incidents and images Characters, incidents and images stand for something else in the “real stand for something else in the “real world”world”

e.g. the conch stands for authoritye.g. the conch stands for authority

• Some people see Some people see the boys’ life on the boys’ life on the island as the island as parallel to the rise parallel to the rise off fascism in off fascism in Germany before Germany before WW2WW2

• Jack and the Jack and the hunters represent hunters represent Hitler’s YouthHitler’s Youth

Contemporary relevanceContemporary relevance• In 1992 Jamie Bulger was lured away from his In 1992 Jamie Bulger was lured away from his

mother in a shopping centre By two boys aged 10 mother in a shopping centre By two boys aged 10 years. He was tortured and they battered him to years. He was tortured and they battered him to death. With this act came a turning point in public death. With this act came a turning point in public perception of children; the notion of childhood perception of children; the notion of childhood innocence died.innocence died.

• In October 1997 Luke Woodham , aged 16, In October 1997 Luke Woodham , aged 16, stabbed his mother, drove to school in her stabbed his mother, drove to school in her car and shot his sweetheart who had car and shot his sweetheart who had spurned him along with another girl. The spurned him along with another girl. The police later found a “manifesto” he had police later found a “manifesto” he had written:written:

“ “I I am not insane … for murder is not weak am not insane … for murder is not weak or slow-witted. Murder is gutsy and daring or slow-witted. Murder is gutsy and daring …. I do this to show society : Push and we …. I do this to show society : Push and we will push back”will push back”

In March 1998 In Jonesboro Arkansas, two In March 1998 In Jonesboro Arkansas, two young males aged 11 and 13, shot dead 4 young males aged 11 and 13, shot dead 4 children and one adult.children and one adult.

A report into the incident commented:A report into the incident commented:

“ “They had laid an unsophisticated but effective They had laid an unsophisticated but effective trap; they set off the fire alarm in order to send trap; they set off the fire alarm in order to send the children into the playground to face the the children into the playground to face the gunfire. Te Jonesboro boys had decided to kit gunfire. Te Jonesboro boys had decided to kit themselves out in fatigues – even combat hats for themselves out in fatigues – even combat hats for the occasion”the occasion”

Parallels to in “Lord of the Parallels to in “Lord of the Flies” is clearFlies” is clear

• The young age of the boys who batter Simon to The young age of the boys who batter Simon to deathdeath

• The chilling way they dress themselves up as part The chilling way they dress themselves up as part of the gang and smear blood on their facesof the gang and smear blood on their faces

• The calculating way Ralph is flushed out of the The calculating way Ralph is flushed out of the forest by fireforest by fire

• The pleasure Roger takes in causing painThe pleasure Roger takes in causing pain

Adventure books referred to:Adventure books referred to: • ““Treasure Island” by Treasure Island” by

R.L StevensonR.L Stevenson

This is about a This is about a young lad, Jack young lad, Jack Hawkins, who goes Hawkins, who goes on a treasure on a treasure seeking voyage. He seeking voyage. He is kidnapped by is kidnapped by pirates but his pirates but his courage and loyalty courage and loyalty bring about a happy bring about a happy endingending

““Swallows and Amazons” Swallows and Amazons” by Arthur Ransomeby Arthur Ransome

• This novel is set in the Lake This novel is set in the Lake District in England. It tells of District in England. It tells of the adventures a group of the adventures a group of children have as they children have as they explore the islands by boat. explore the islands by boat. In many ways it portrays a In many ways it portrays a perfect childhood, full of fun, perfect childhood, full of fun, in which being “decent” in which being “decent” always brings success.always brings success.

The Coral IslandThe Coral Island

““This is the novel most closely linked to This is the novel most closely linked to Lord of the Flies. It is about three Lord of the Flies. It is about three British boys, British boys,

Ralph (15), Jack (18) and Ralph (15), Jack (18) and Peterkin (14), Peterkin (14),

who are shipwrecked on a desert who are shipwrecked on a desert island in the South Pacific. island in the South Pacific.

Ralph is the centre figure and Ralph is the centre figure and tells the storytells the story

Jack is the heroJack is the hero Peterkin is funny and clever Peterkin is funny and clever

(almost like a popular Piggy). (almost like a popular Piggy).

• Fire on the island is a Fire on the island is a symbol for safety but symbol for safety but also for destruction. also for destruction. Traditionally it Traditionally it represents hope, represents hope, warmth and comfortwarmth and comfort

• There is another two-There is another two-edged symbol. What is edged symbol. What is it?it?

The conchThe conch