Lord of the Flies

William Golding’s Masterpiece

Title Translation – represents the devil inside

“Beelzebub” a Hebrew word for

LUCIFERHowever, the literal translation of

“Beelzebub”into English is LORD OF THE FLIES

Author and Context

Participated in D-Day experience in WWII had a profound effect on his

view of humanity and the evils of which it was capable

The novel shows brutality of civilized people

Summary

a group of English schoolboys marooned on a tropical island after their plane is shot down during a war.

its exploration of the idea of human evil is at least partly based on Golding’s experience with the real-life violence and brutality of World War II.

Free from the rules and structures of civilization and society, the boys on the island in Lord of the Flies descend into savagery.

In his portrayal of the small world of the island, Golding paints a broader portrait of the fundamental human struggle between the civilizing instinct—the impulse to obey rules, behave morally, and act lawfully—and the savage instinct—the impulse to seek brute power over others, act selfishly, scorn moral rules, and indulge in violence.

Island is a microcosm of society, politics, and human psychology

Do you know of any other stories of children making their own society?

Peter Pan was originally conceived of as the villain of the story - can be thoughtlessly ruthless, and although he's an effective leader, he's not a wise one. One key difference is that Barrie's boys, while tending toward savagery on their own, also strongly want to be civilized by someone: they want a mother.

FEAR AND CHAOS

What are common reactions to fear?Describe a situation when you were afraid

(especially of the unknown).

Through LOTF, Golding is making the statement that we cannot escape our

savage, violent tendencies…

Ralph

Ralph has charisma.chosen as leader - many positive qualitiesconflict with Jack Wants to keep order and civilization.Ralph and Piggy together represent the

struggle for order and democracy.

Piggy

short and overweight, wears glasses represents order and democracy tries very hard to cling to civilization, and tries

his best to keep peace smartest boy on the island, but he lacks any social

skills - has trouble communicating or fitting in with the others – represent science and thought

His glasses are a very important part of the book, as they are used over and over to start fires. Piggy's constant polishing of them shows his desire for clear-sightedness and civilization.

Jack

about Ralph's age, a skinnier build and red hair

emotions of anger and savagery. At first, he is the leader of his choir group,

who become hunters as the book progresses. He eventually overtakes Ralph as chief/leader.

Wears a cape with a snake clasp - evil

Simon

younger than the three previous boys, but older than other littluns

He is very good and pure, and has the most positive outlook

Simon often travels into his tranquil spot in the jungle, but also tries to help out when it is needed.

Meditates – likes nature; has a spiritual; goodness He meets up with a pig's head skewered on a stick

which leads him to an epileptic episode.

Character Analysis

Roger ~ “Silent” and sadistic

Targets the “littluns”

The only one to premeditate murderKills without consciencePure evil

Character Analysis Sam and Eric

(Samneric) ~ Twins

Described as barely having enough skin to cover both, bullet-headed, and they finish each other’s sentences

The last to remain loyal to Ralph

Represent the tug-of-warwithin us to remain good

Character Analysis

“Littluns” ~ The younger kids

Represent the common folk, who easily follow the lead of others into savagery when there is no enforced structure in society

LOTF Symbols (Objects, characters, figures, or colors that represent ideas or concepts)

Piggy’s Glasses = The last surviving evidence of the lawful, structured world

Conch Shell = New

democracy on the island

Snake = Evil…reference to the serpent in the garden of Eden

Important Images

The Beast = The imaginary evil that is projected onto the island by the boys’ paranoia

Lord of the Flies = A pig’s head on a stick that becomes the physical acceptance of evil on the island

Themes

society holds everyone together, and without rules and order the basic concept of right and wrong are lost.

People will abuse power when it's not earned. When given a chance, people often single out

another to degrade to improve their own security. Inner savagery can only be suppressed for so long

before it breaks out, given the right situation. The fear of the unknown can be a powerful force,

which can turn you to either insight or hysteria.

Allegory

A work of fiction carrying two levels of meaning:

- 1) a surface plot/narrative (literal)

- 2) symbolic/metaphorical meaning in which everything in story symbolizes

something greater

A Freudian AllegoryRalph, Jack, and Piggy

Id – The part of the personality reflecting unorganized, instinctual

impulses. If unbridled, it seeks immediate gratification of primitive needs.

Ego – The part of the personality corresponding most nearly to the

perceived self, the controlling self that holds back the impulsiveness of the id in the effort to delay gratification until it can be found in socially approved ways.

Superego – The part of the personality corresponding most nearly to conscience,

superego is said to be the punishing conscience. Unconscious

– Memories, impulses and desires that are not available to consciousness, sometimes controlled or repressed.

Social Influence

1. Compliance – The person at whom the influence is directed (the target) publicly

conforms to the wishes of the influencing source but does not change his or her private beliefs or attitudes. (The child eats the spinach but continues to dislike it.)

2. Internalization – The target changes his or her beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors because of a

genuine belief in the validity of the position advocated by the influencing source. (A middle-aged man gives up smoking after reading – and believing – the surgeon general's warnings that smoking causes cancer.)

3. Identification – The target changes his or her beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors in order to

resemble an influencing source that is respected or admired. (A high school girl takes up smoking in order to be like a group of older girls she admires.)

Deindividuation – sense of self diminished when in a crowd (mob mentality)

Political Allegory

The world was divided into two camps, the free world and the Soviet Union, much like the camps of Ralph and Jack. In addition, the postwar Cold War Era suffered from fears of atomic destruction.  Lord of the Flies shows the world at the brink of atomic destruction.  The novel serves as a warning to the leaders of the world.

Religious Allegory

Garden of Eden:  It was a perfect island with good food, good weather, and good water.  The beastie is the snake in the Garden that lures (tricks) the others to refuse their duty. The parachutist and Piggy represent the fall of mankind.  Jack and Ralph are very much like Cain and Able. Simon is a Christ figure who sacrifices himself to save them.