what is the theme of lord of the flies essay

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Lord of the flies themes.

Image: theguardian.com Pictorial Press Ltd/Alamy

The following review example can serve as a guide for students trying to find inspiration when writing an assignment on the themes of “Lord of the Flies”

What makes a book the staple in the classroom, the beloved read on the shelf, and censorship for society? The answer is easy, a fresh and brave look on the world. 

William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies” epitomizes this through its timeless exploration of human nature and societal needs. Despite being set in the 1950s, it remains relevant in modern education, bridging the gap between past and present. The novel’s themes of civilization versus savagery, and order versus chaos, are as relevant today as ever, reflecting current societal and governmental issues. Thus, “Lord of the Flies” continues to be a critical educational resource, demonstrating how classical literature can remain significant across generations.

What is the theme of “Lord of the Flies”?

“Lord of the Flies” delves into the stark conflict between civilization and savagery, a theme that unfolds through the experiences of stranded English schoolboys on a deserted island. At the heart of this story is the struggle between two opposing impulses within humans. One is the instinct to live peacefully, follow rules, and respect the collective good. The other is a darker urge to fulfill immediate desires, assert dominance, and resort to violence.

The novel portrays these conflicting instincts through its characters, mainly Ralph and Jack. Ralph symbolizes order and leadership. He strives to maintain a civilized society on the island, establishing rules and focusing on rescue. His use of the conch shell to call meetings is emblematic of his commitment to democracy and order. Conversely, Jack embodies savagery and a thirst for power. His journey from a choirboy to a ruthless leader of a rival group showcases the descent into savagery. His rule is marked by fear, violence, and the worship of a primitive idol, The Lord of the Flies, a gruesome symbol of chaos and savagery.

As the story progresses, the tension between these two leaders escalates, reflecting the broader conflict between civilization and savagery. Initially, there’s a balance, with Jack’s hunting activities channeling his aggressive instincts productively. However, this balance crumbles as Jack rejects Ralph’s authority and civilized norms. His refusal to follow the rules marks a shift towards savagery and the decline of civilized order on the island.

The novel’s symbols further accentuate this conflict. The conch shell, associated with Ralph, starts as a symbol of authority and democratic order but loses its significance as Jack’s savagery gains prominence. The Lord of the Flies, linked to Jack, symbolizes the dominance of savagery and fear. The destruction of the conch shell, coinciding with the brutal murder of Piggy, signifies the complete collapse of civilization. In contrast, Ralph’s destruction of The Lord of the Flies indicates his own spiral into violence, highlighting how savagery ultimately overshadows civilization.

Golding’s narrative suggests that while civilization can suppress the baser instincts of savagery, these primal urges are inherent and can resurface under certain conditions. Characters like Piggy and Roger represent the spectrum of these instincts, with Piggy lacking savage impulses and Roger being almost unable to understand civilized behavior. The transformation of the boys, from disciplined, moral individuals to wild, barbaric beings, underscores the novel’s central concern: the ongoing battle between the civilizing force of society and the inherent savagery in human nature.

The allegorical nature of “Lord of the Flies” allows Golding to explore these themes deeply. The island becomes a microcosm for the world, where the struggle between good (civilization) and evil (savagery) plays out. The story concludes with the chilling realization that savagery lies not in some external beast but within each individual. This acknowledgment of inherent evil, as symbolized by the beast and the sow’s head, is central to the narrative. Golding ultimately posits that moral behavior is often a societal construct, suggesting that in the absence of civilization, humans may naturally gravitate towards cruelty and barbarism. Simon, the only character depicted with innate goodness, stands as a solitary figure in contrast to this bleak view of human nature.

Weaknesses and Strengths

In “Lord of the Flies,” William Golding explores the strengths and weaknesses of his characters, offering a deep insight into human nature and leadership. Each character in the novel possesses unique traits that both aid and hinder their survival and influence on the island. These characteristics also reflect different styles of leadership and governance, highlighting the complexities and challenges in forming a society.

Ralph, the protagonist, emerges as a leader who values democracy and cooperation. His key strength lies in his willingness to prioritize the group’s welfare and his efforts to maintain order through democratic means. He understands the importance of working together and staying focused on rescue. However, Ralph’s weaknesses are equally pronounced. He lacks natural authority and struggles to maintain focus, which undermines his ability to lead effectively. His democratic approach, while morally sound, fails to inspire or control the boys as effectively as Jack’s authoritarian style.

Piggy, representing intellect and morality, is the voice of reason on the island. His intelligence and strong sense of right and wrong make him a valuable advisor in the group. Piggy’s insights often point towards rational solutions to the problems the boys face. However, his physical weaknesses, coupled with his whiny demeanor, prevent him from being a strong influence. Piggy’s lack of physical prowess and his annoying traits make him an easy target for ridicule and disregard, undermining his valuable contributions.

Jack, on the other hand, embodies a starkly different leadership style. He is charismatic and has a natural ability to manipulate others, making him an effective, albeit tyrannical, leader. Jack’s strengths lie in his assertiveness and drive, which appeal to the boys’ primal instincts and desire for excitement. However, his leadership is deeply flawed. Jack’s selfishness and immaturity lead to a reign of fear and savagery, highlighting the dangers of unchecked power and authoritarian rule. His ability to sway the boys stems more from their fear and the allure of savagery than from any positive leadership qualities.

Simon stands apart with his kindness and insight. He is the moral compass of the group, showing an innate goodness and understanding of the deeper truths of their situation. Yet, Simon’s strengths are overshadowed by his inability to communicate effectively and his physical vulnerability, particularly his epilepsy. His quiet, introspective nature makes it difficult for him to assert his views, rendering his wisdom largely unheard.

The interplay of these strengths and weaknesses is crucial in shaping the novel’s events. Ralph, Piggy, and Simon, despite their positive qualities, fail to maintain order against Jack’s domineering and manipulative tactics. This dynamic illustrates a critical commentary on leadership and society. It shows how individuals with noble intentions and beneficial qualities can be overshadowed by those who wield charisma and power, even if it’s for selfish or destructive ends. The boys’ descent into chaos under Jack’s rule demonstrates how easily a society can collapse when led by someone skilled in exploitation and intimidation, rather than by those who have the group’s best interests at heart.

Golding’s portrayal of these characters underscores a bleak reality: in the absence of a structured society, the darker aspects of human nature can prevail. The novel serves as a warning about the fragility of civilization and the inherent dangers of allowing charismatic, yet unprincipled, individuals to seize power. It reveals that in the struggle for leadership and order, it is often not the most virtuous or intelligent who prevail, but those who can most effectively exploit the weaknesses of others and appeal to their baser instincts.

Danger of Mob mentality

In “Lord of the Flies,” the boys’ descent into savagery is marked by their embrace of mob mentality, leading to extreme violence and cruelty. The novel vividly illustrates how the boys, initially innocent, transform into a violent mob. This shift is evident in their chant, “Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Spill her blood,” which turns a violent act into a unifying, almost celebratory ritual. This group mentality allows them to commit increasingly heinous acts, as they convince themselves that these actions are justified to protect against an imagined beast. The use of warpaint is symbolic of their loss of individual identity and moral responsibility, further fueling their descent into barbarism. Even characters like Ralph and Piggy, who initially resist this savagery, find themselves drawn into the violent rituals. The tragic climax, where the mob kills Simon in a frenzied ritual, highlights the terrifying consequences of mob mentality: rational thought is lost, and violence escalates to the point of murder.

Future of Mankind

“Lord of the Flies,” set against the backdrop of a global war, offers a stark depiction of society’s struggle to rebuild after a catastrophic event. The novel focuses on a group of boys stranded on an island, who attempt to create a new social order. Initially, they try to establish rules and a sense of fairness, but as the challenges of survival intensify, these ideals quickly collapse. The arrival of a paratrooper on the island serves as a grim reminder of the ongoing war in the outside world, underscoring the inescapable nature of conflict. Despite their youth and isolation, the boys succumb to violence, echoing the war that rages beyond their island. This descent into savagery, marked by torture and murder, mirrors the chaos and brutality of the war-torn world they have left behind. The novel thus reflects on the fragile nature of civilization and the ease with which humanity can revert to primal instincts in the face of adversity.

“Lord of the Flies” themes include the conflict between civilization and savagery, the dangers of mob mentality, and the fragility of societal structures post-catastrophe, all explored through the characters’ inherent strengths, weaknesses, and descent into barbarism.

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Themes and Analysis

Lord of the flies, by william golding.

"Lord of the Flies" by William Golding is a powerful novel. It's filled with interesting themes, thoughtful symbols, and a particular style of writing that has made it a classic of British literature.

Main Themes

• The Impact of Humankind on Nature: The boys' arrival leaves a “scar” on the island, a note on their destructive influence.
• Civilization versus Savagery: The struggle between order and chaos manifests as the boys abandon their societal rules.
• Loss of Innocence: The boys' descent into savagery represents the tragic fading of childhood innocence.
• Direct Language: Golding uses simple, impactful sentences that reflect the boys' descent into chaos.
• Vivid Descriptions: The island is described in a way that contrasts its beauty with the boys’ brutality.
• Shifting Tone: The tone evolves from adventurous to bleak, mirroring the boys’ transformation.
• Piggy's Glasses: Represent intellect and reason; their destruction signifies the end of civilization.
• The Conch Shell: Symbolizes order and civility; its shattering marks the collapse of a structured society.
• The Beast: Represents the inner darkness of humanity, embodying the boys' fears and savagery.

The novel opens with boys discovering the island, filled with excitement and innocence, hinting at their potential for adventure and chaos.

As the boys become increasingly lost in their primal instincts, their society deteriorates, leading to a power tussle and barbaric violence.

The story concludes with a bleak realization of the boys' lost innocence and their return to civilization.

Continue down for complete analysis to Lord of the Flies

Article written by Lee-James Bovey

P.G.C.E degree.

“ Lord of the Flies ” unfolds like a dark fable, a story set on an uncharted island where boys are stripped of the comforts of civilization. What begins as a tale of adventure quickly morphs into a haunting exploration of human nature. William Golding invites us to peer into the abyss of our instincts, revealing the fragile boundaries between order and chaos, innocence and savagery.

William Golding digs deep into the darker side of human nature, showing us what happens when the rules that hold society together break down. It’s a book about boys stranded on an island, but it’s also about something bigger—the thin line between civilization and savagery.

The Impact of Humankind on Nature

This is evident from the first chapter when the plane crashing leaves what Golding describes as a “scar” across the island. This idea is explored further in the early chapters the boys light a fire that escapes their control and yet further diminishes what might be considered an unspoiled island. Some interpret the island almost as a Garden of Eden, with the children giving in to temptation by slaughtering the animals there. The final chapter furthers the destruction of nature by mankind as the whole island appears to have been ruined thanks to the effects of the boy’s presence on the island.

Civilization versus Savagery

This can be seen throughout as the boys struggle with being removed from organized society. To begin with, they cope well. They construct a form of government represented by the conch that theoretically draws them together and gives them all a voice. As they break away from society,, this adherence to their constructed rules is evident. Golding’s ideas of what savagery is might be outdated and rooted in colonial stereotypes, but they are evident for all to see as the boys use masks to dehumanize themselves, and their increasing obsession with hunting leads to an increasingly animalistic nature.

Nature of Humanity

Perhaps the biggest underlying theme is the idea of the true nature of mankind. Golding explores the idea that mankind is innately evil and that it is only the contrast between society and civilization that prevents that nature from being prevalent. Of course, this overlooks that civilization is a human construct, and if all men’s biggest motivation were their inner evil, then that construct would never have existed. Golding’s views largely spring from his role in the navy, where he was witness to the atrocities of war, but are also informed by his work as a teacher.

Crowd Mentality

In “ Lord of the Flies ,” crowd mentality takes over quickly. Boys, who might have acted with reason on their own, lose themselves in the group and quickly turn into mindless savages. Fear and excitement spread like fire. When one charismatic boy, Jack in this instance, shouts, the others follow. It’s easy to see how quickly the group can commit barbaric acts. They stop thinking, and act instead on impulse. We see it most clearly when the boys kill Simon in a frenzy. No one stands up, no one questions what’s happening. The crowd moves as one, and the lines between right and wrong vanish.

Loss of Innocence

The longer the boys are marooned, the island strips away the their innocence piece by piece. At first, they try to keep order, like they’re playing a game. But as the days pass, the game turns deadly. The older boys start performing petty acts of cruelty on the little ones. The longer they stay, the less they remember the world they came from, but when they lynch Simon is the tipping point. It marks the moment when childhood fades, and something darker takes its place. The island shows how quickly innocence can be irretrivably lost when the rules of civilization crumble.

Key Moments

There are many key moments in ‘ Lord of the Flies ‘ that highlight the boy’s descent into savagery.

• Blowing the conch : This introduces us to the conch which acts as a symbol of society and civilization throughout the novel. It is both the device that brings the children together and in theory, the object that allows them all to have a say and therefore run a democratic society.
• The fire gets out of control : This shows the effects the boys already have on the island. It also demonstrates how lost the boys are without adults there to guide them as they lose one of the boys and nobody even knows his name.
• Jack fails to kill the pig/Roger throws stones : Both of these events show how the boys are currently constrained by society’s expectations. As time passes, these restraints are lifted, and first, Jack can kill a pig. Finally, and perhaps more dramatically, Roger is not only okay with hitting somebody with a stone but also taking their life with one.
• The hunters put on masks: By covering their faces, they seem free from society’s constraints. It is as if it liberates them from humanity and allows them to act on more primal, animalistic urges.
• Sam and Eric find “the beast” : When Sam and Eric feel they have discovered the beast, a ripple of panic spreads throughout. This fear sways the boys towards Jack’s leadership as he continues to manipulate the situation to his advantage. If not for this, Simon might never be murdered.
• Creating the Lord of the Flies: Successfully killing the pig is an iconic moment, but leaving a pig’s head on a pole is both a gruesome image (one worthy of the book’s title) and plays a pivotal role in Simon’s story arc.
• Simon’s death: Simon is the one character who never seems to succumb to primal urges, and therefore, his death, if looked at symbolically, could be seen as the death of hope for boys.
• Piggy’s death : Piggy’s character represents order and reason. With his death, any chance of resolving the issues between Jack and Ralph vanishes. The conch being smashed at the same time is also symbolic and represents the destruction of society.
• The rescue : This is not the happy ending one might expect, with all the boys crying due to their loss of innocence. There is also irony, as the boys will not be rescued and taken to a Utopia but rather to a civilization plagued by a war that mirrors the war zone they have just left.

Writing Style, Tone, and Figurative Language

William Golding’s style in “ Lord of the Flies ” is direct, but full of depth. He doesn’t waste words. The story is stripped to its core, much like the boys’ own descent into savagery. Short sentences give the action a sharp, raw feeling, like the moment Ralph realizes the fire has gone out: “There was a ship.” That’s it. That’s all Ralph needs to say, and we feel his panic. Golding’s use of simple language mirrors the breakdown of the boys’ civilized world. But even in the simplicity, there’s beauty. His descriptions of the island are vivid, almost poetic, painting a place that is both a paradise and a prison. The contrast between the lush setting and the boys’ brutal behavior underlines the novel’s themes.

The tone of “ Lord of the Flies ” shifts as the story moves deeper into chaos. In the beginning, there’s a sense of curiosity and adventure. The boys are playing at being grown-ups, and Golding’s tone reflects that—there’s an excitement, almost a thrill in their new freedom. But as the novel progresses, the tone darkens. What starts as a game becomes something far more sinister. The innocence fades, replaced by fear and violence. By the end, the tone is bleak, almost hopeless. “Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart.” There’s no going back, and Golding makes sure we feel the weight of that loss.

Golding’s figurative language breathes life into the island, making it as much a character as any of the boys. He uses similes and metaphors to make the setting vivid and unsettling. The ocean is described as “a breathing thing,” something alive and watching. The “beast,” a symbol of the boys’ own inner darkness, takes on different forms in their minds, but the real terror is what it represents—the savage nature within them. Golding also uses personification to emphasize the island’s role in the story. The creepers, the trees, even the sun seem to have their own will, pushing the boys toward madness. The figurative language deepens the story, showing how the island’s beauty hides a lurking danger, just like the boys themselves.

In “ Lord of the Flies ,” symbols breathe life into the story, each one deepening our understanding of the boys’ descent into savagery.

Piggy’s Glasses

Piggy’s glasses are more than just a tool for sight. They represent intellect, reason, and the fragile grip on civilization. Piggy, with his asthma and awkwardness, clings to these glasses like a lifeline, using them to start the fire, and they are also a beacon of hope and order. But as soon as Jack’s tribe shatters them, it’s as if the boys’ connection to logic and clear thinking breaks too. The destruction of Piggy’s glasses marks the end of reason and the start of chaos.

At first, to face paint is a game for the boys, a way to hide and become something else. But once they smear it on, it becomes a mask that erases their individual identities. With the paint on, the boys aren’t themselves anymore—they’re part of a pack, hunters with no conscience. The paint frees them from guilt, letting them act without consequence, and soon, they are no longer bound by the rules of society. It’s not just paint; it’s a symbol of their transformation into something wild and unrecognizable.

The Conch Shell

The conch shell is one of the major symbols of this novel. At first, the conch is order. It’s power. Whoever holds it gets to speak, and the boys listen. It’s the closest thing they have to a government. But as the boys descend into chaos, the conch loses its power. When it’s smashed, so is their last connection to civilization. From that moment on, there’s no more structure, no more law.

The Signal Fire

The signal fire is a very important symbol in the novel. It’s first lit on the mountain and then later on the beach to attract the attention of passion ships. The fire is maintained diligently at first, but as the book progresses and the boys slip farther from civilization, their concentration on the fire wanes. They eventually lose their desire to be rescued. Therefore, as one makes their way through the book, gauging the boys’ concentration on the fire is a great way to understand how “civilized” they are.

The beast isn’t real, but the fear of it is. The boys imagine it as a creature stalking the island, but what they’re really afraid of is themselves. The beast becomes a symbol of the fear that drives them to madness—the fear of the unknown, the fear of the dark, and the fear of what they’re capable of. It’s only through the boys’ behaviour that the beast exists.

Personal Perspective

Reading “ Lord of the Flies ” left me with a deep sense of unease, but also a strange clarity about human nature. Golding holds up a mirror, not to the noble side of man, but to something darker, something we often try to forget exists. The theme of the loss of innocence hit me the hardest. Watching the boys go from innocent children to something more savage felt like watching the world fall apart in slow motion. It wasn’t just about their descent into chaos—it was about the fragility of society itself. The crowd mentality, too, was terrifying. That scene where they turn on Simon, mistaking him for the beast, sent a chill through me. How quickly fear and the need to belong can turn us into something unrecognizable. The novel reminded me how thin the line is between order and chaos, between civilization and the wild that lives in us all.

But in the end, I can’t help but feel this is more Golding’s pessimism than a true reflection of human behavior. His view of humanity feels bleak, suggesting that without rules, we would all descend into barbarism. I’d like to believe people are more resilient, more compassionate, even when left to their own devices.

Lord of the Flies Quiz

Test your understanding of human nature and survival with our " Lord of the Flies " Trivia Quiz! Do you have the insight and knowledge to navigate the complex dynamics and symbolism of William Golding's masterpiece? Accept the challenge now and prove your mastery over the gripping and thought-provoking world of " Lord of the Flies "!

1) What is Jack's main priority on the island?

2) How are the boys finally rescued?

3) What does the face paint symbolize for Jack's tribe?

4) Who leads the boys in the brutal killing of Simon?

5) What does Ralph cry for at the end of the novel?

6) What happens to the boy with the mulberry-colored birthmark?

7) What happens to the conch shell?

8) How does Piggy die?

9) What do the boys chant during their tribal rituals?

10) Who discovers the true nature of the "beast"?

11) Which character represents the voice of reason and intelligence?

12) What does the "Lord of the Flies" symbolize?

13) Who is the last boy to remain loyal to Ralph?

14) How does the naval officer react when he sees the boys?

15) What is Ralph's main concern throughout the novel?

16) What tragic event occurs when the boys reenact the hunt?

17) What is the significance of the beast in the novel?

18) Who is responsible for maintaining the signal fire?

19) What do the boys use to start a fire?

20) What event causes the boys to be stranded on the island?

21) What role does Roger play in the novel?

22) Why do Jack and his hunters attack Ralph's camp?

23) Who is the author of "Lord of the Flies"?

24) What do the boys call the younger children on the island?

25) What is the main source of conflict between Ralph and Jack?

26) What theme does "Lord of the Flies" primarily explore?

27) Who is elected leader of the boys at the beginning of the novel?

28) What is the "Lord of the Flies"?

29) What object is used to symbolize authority and order?

30) Who is the first boy to suggest the existence of a "beast" on the island?

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About Lee-James Bovey

Lee-James, a.k.a. LJ, has been a Book Analysis team member since it was first created. During the day, he's an English Teacher. During the night, he provides in-depth analysis and summary of books.

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Lord of the Flies Themes

A theme is an overarching idea that runs through a literary text in one or some parts. It makes up the major point the author he wants to convey to his readers. Lord of the Flies is a rich literary text that contains multidimensional themes. Some of the overarching themes are discussed below.

Themes in Lord of the Flies

Loss of innocence.

Loss of innocence is one of the major themes of Lord of the Flies . Piggy, Ralph and “littluns” represent innocence. The death of Piggy and flight of Ralph from fear of death at the hands of Jack and his hunters is the loss of innocence. At first, the innocent boys have become hunters symbolically. However, later in the novel , they turn upon Ralph after killing Piggy. Hence, they become hunters of human life. This is where their innocence is lost in the maze of confusion.

Savageness and Society

‘Savageness’ in the society is another overarching theme of Lord of the Flies . Through the character of Jack and his hunters, William Golding has wonderfully displayed that human nature can quickly turn from prey to savagery. Except for Jack, all others are just followers . The ways of Jack tempt them toward hunting which is savagery in nature. With the passage of time, they become savages and start hunting human beings. This shows how savageness or savagery spread in a society when there are no restrictions.

Vice against Virtue

Vice against virtue is another major theme of the novel. William Golding has deliberately put children in the wilderness to evaluate how virtue is an innate feature of human nature, and how it loses against the vice. Although simple at first, a devious immoral action of Jack to dominate the children by taking leadership from Ralph turns into a vice. It gradually dominates others, and by the end of the novel, Ralph is left alone to represent virtue on that island.

End of Rationalism

Lord of the Flies shows how rationalism is a good virtue but also very difficult to practice. Piggy, the representative of rationalism and rational thinking, is timid when it comes to asserting his rationality. He fears that absurdity is dominating, and it will swallow him. Jack’s irrational reasoning becomes Piggy’s foe. Eventually, Jack succeeds in killing Piggy as soon as he finds an opportunity. With Piggy’s death, the rational thinking among the children comes to an end. Soon they degenerate into a herd of killers.

Absence of Social Norms

A major latent theme that William Golding has put into Lord of the Flies is the presence of social norms and traditions. The idea behind this theme is that it is the pressure of the social norms and traditions that force people to obey laws and rules or traditions. If there is an absence of social norms, people show their true nature, and it is mostly evil and vicious. However, social norms, traditions, and customs protect the weaker group. Hence, Piggy remained safe until there were a proper leadership and rule of conch. Yet he is instantly killed when conch becomes an obsolete thing.

Dehumanization of Relations

Relations between human beings is one of the greatest mysteries . This novel shows when relations between human beings degenerates they reach to low-down state. Seeing the corrupt humans, you may want to believe the animals are better. Jack instantly orders the killing of Piggy when they become two parties, and war for domination ensues. Ralph and Jack are just two boys with normal relations. However, when Jack becomes his enemy, their relationship deteriorates. This is called dehumanization of relations; both boys turn against each other.

The Nature of Evil or Vice

It is generally believed that all human beings are good and that vice dominates only during trying circumstances. However, Lord of the Flies shows a different perspective . It shows that not only human beings are good or bad, but also some have a tendency toward evil or vice such as Jack. This leads to a total lapse of character if there is no social or legal restriction on humans. This also shows that evil spreads quickly if goodness is not present to obstruct it with the same proportion.

Community against Individual

Although the theme of a community against an individual is a minor one, it runs throughout the novel. From the very start, when Ralph becomes the leader and Piggy supports him, Jack turns against them. He forms his own group and community of hunters. Eventually, this community turns against Ralph after killing Piggy. Ralph is left alone and is on the run for his life. It shows how a community persecutes an individual who refuses to conform to destructive rituals.

Progress of Civilization

Lord of the Flies shows the progress of civilization through its incidents. The two group of boys, hunters of Jack and followers of Ralph, compete with each other. Ralph represents civilization, order, and rule, while Jack and his group represent savagery and barbarism. The competition reaches its peak when conch is defied, and rules are broken. Finally, the hunters take over the island and hinder the progress of civilization. The representative of rationality, Piggy is killed, while Ralph runs for life.

Absence of Laws

When the children land on the island, they are left on their own. They do not have any social setup with traditions and rules. Ralph and Piggy try to set up a decent society through the assembly with the help of the conch. However, due to the absence of responsible adult supervision and guidance, they soon resort to violence. The strong group of hunters see that there are no binding laws and punishing authority. Therefore, they form a separate strong group and try to break their rules. Once the rules are broken, they are on the loose. Unfortunately, Piggy is killed in this mayhem. Lack of a leader makes them bolder, and they try to kill Ralph too, who fortunately saves himself when the British officer arrive. This shows that absence of laws creates chaos and disorder that leads to killing the innocents and the weak.

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Lord of the Flies

By william golding, lord of the flies themes, civilization vs. savagery.

The overarching theme of Lord of the Flies is the conflict between the human impulse towards savagery and the rules of civilization which are designed to contain and minimize it. Throughout the novel, the conflict is dramatized by the clash between Ralph and Jack, who respectively represent civilization and savagery. The differing ideologies are expressed by each boy's distinct attitudes towards authority. While Ralph uses his authority to establish rules, protect the good of the group, and enforce the moral and ethical codes of the English society the boys were raised in, Jack is interested in gaining power over the other boys to gratify his most primal impulses. When Jack assumes leadership of his own tribe, he demands the complete subservience of the other boys, who not only serve him but worship him as an idol. Jack's hunger for power suggests that savagery does not resemble anarchy so much as a totalitarian system of exploitation and illicit power.

Golding's emphasis on the negative consequences of savagery can be read as a clear endorsement of civilization. In the early chapters of the novel, he suggests that one of the important functions of civilized society is to provide an outlet for the savage impulses that reside inside each individual. Jack's initial desire to kill pigs to demonstrate his bravery, for example, is channeled into the hunt, which provides needed food for the entire group. As long as he lives within the rules of civilization, Jack is not a threat to the other boys; his impulses are being re-directed into a productive task. Rather, it is when Jack refuses to recognize the validity of society and rejects Ralph's authority that the dangerous aspects of his character truly emerge. Golding suggests that while savagery is perhaps an inescapable fact of human existence, civilization can mitigate its full expression.

The rift between civilization and savagery is also communicated through the novel's major symbols: the conch shell, which is associated with Ralph, and The Lord of the Flies , which is associated with Jack. The conch shell is a powerful marker of democratic order on the island, confirming both Ralph's leadership-determined by election-and the power of assembly among the boys. Yet, as the conflict between Ralph and Jack deepens, the conch shell loses symbolic importance. Jack declares that the conch is meaningless as a symbol of authority and order, and its decline in importance signals the decline of civilization on the island. At the same time, The Lord of the Flies, which is an offering to the mythical "beast" on the island, is increasingly invested with significance as a symbol of the dominance of savagery on the island, and of Jack's authority over the other boys. The Lord of the Flies represents the unification of the boys under Jack's rule as motivated by fear of "outsiders": the beast and those who refuse to accept Jack's authority. The destruction of the conch shell at the scene of Piggy 's murder signifies the complete eradication of civilization on the island, while Ralph's demolition of The Lord of the Flies-he intends to use the stick as a spear-signals his own descent into savagery and violence. By the final scene, savagery has completely displaced civilization as the prevailing system on the island.

Individualism vs. Community

One of the key concerns of Lord of the Flies is the role of the individual in society. Many of the problems on the island-the extinguishing of the signal fire, the lack of shelters, the mass abandonment of Ralph's camp, and the murder of Piggy-stem from the boys' implicit commitment to a principle of self-interest over the principle of community. That is, the boys would rather fulfill their individual desires than cooperate as a coherent society, which would require that each one act for the good of the group. Accordingly, the principles of individualism and community are symbolized by Jack and Ralph, respectively. Jack wants to "have fun" on the island and satisfy his bloodlust, while Ralph wants to secure the group's rescue, a goal they can achieve only by cooperating. Yet, while Ralph's vision is the most reasonable, it requires work and sacrifice on the part of the other boys, so they quickly shirk their societal duties in favor of fulfilling their individual desires. The shelters do not get built because the boys would rather play; the signal fire is extinguished when Jack's hunters fail to tend to it on schedule.

The boys' self-interestedness culminates, of course, when they decide to join Jack's tribe, a society without communal values whose appeal is that Jack will offer them total freedom. The popularity of his tribe reflects the enormous appeal of a society based on individual freedom and self-interest, but as the reader soon learns, the freedom Jack offers his tribe is illusory. Jack implements punitive and irrational rules and restricts his boys' behavior far more than Ralph did. Golding thus suggests not only that some level of communal system is superior to one based on pure self-interest, but also that pure individual freedom is an impossible value to sustain within a group dynamic, which will always tend towards societal organization. The difficult question, of course, is what individuals are willing to give up to gain the benefits of being in the group.

The Nature of Evil

Is evil innate within the human spirit, or is it an influence from an external source? What role do societal rules and institutions play in the existence of human evil? Does the capacity for evil vary from person to person, or does it depend on the circumstances each individual faces? These questions are at the heart of Lord of the Flies which, through detailed depictions of the boys' different responses to their situation, presents a complex articulation of humanity's potential for evil.

It is important to note that Golding's novel rejects supernatural or religious accounts of the origin of human evil. While the boys fear the "beast" as an embodiment of evil similar to the Christian concept of Satan, the novel emphasizes that this interpretation is not only mistaken but also, ironically, the motivation for the boys' increasingly cruel and violent behavior. It is their irrational fear of the beast that informs the boys' paranoia and leads to the fatal schism between Jack and Ralph and their respective followers, and this is what prevents them from recognizing and addressing their responsibility for their own impulses. Rather, as The Lord of the Flies communicates to Simon in the forest glade, the "beast" is an internal force, present in every individual, and is thus incapable of being truly defeated. That the most ethical characters on the island-Simon and Ralph-each come to recognize his own capacity for evil indicates the novel's emphasis on evil's universality among humans.

Even so, the novel is not entirely pessimistic about the human capacity for good. While evil impulses may lurk in every human psyche, the intensity of these impulses-and the ability to control them-appear to vary from individual to individual. Through the different characters, the novel presents a continuum of evil, ranging from Jack and Roger , who are eager to engage in violence and cruelty, to Ralph and Simon, who struggle to contain their brutal instincts. We may note that the characters who struggle most successfully against their evil instincts do so by appealing to ethical or social codes of behavior. For example, Ralph and Piggy demand the return of Piggy's glasses because it is the "right thing to do." Golding suggests that while evil may be present in us all, it can be successfully suppressed by the social norms that are imposed on our behavior from without or by the moral norms we decide are inherently "good," which we can internalize within our wills.

The ambiguous and deeply ironic conclusion of Lord of the Flies , however, calls into question society's role in shaping human evil. The naval officer, who repeats Jack's rhetoric of nationalism and militarism, is engaged in a bloody war that is responsible for the boys' aircraft crash on the island and that is mirrored by the civil war among the survivors. In this sense, much of the evil on the island is a result not of the boys' distance from society, but of their internalization of the norms and ideals of that society-norms and ideals that justify and even thrive on war. Are the boys corrupted by the internal pressures of an essentially violent human nature, or have they been corrupted by the environment of war they were raised in? Lord of the Flies offers no clear solution to this question, provoking readers to contemplate the complex relationships among society, morality, and human nature.

Man vs. Nature

Lord of the Flies introduces the question of man's ideal relationship with the natural world. Thrust into the completely natural environment of the island, in which no humans exist or have existed, the boys express different attitudes towards nature that reflect their distinct personalities and ideological leanings. The boys' relationships to the natural world generally fall into one of three categories: subjugation of nature, harmony with nature, and subservience to nature. The first category, subjugation of nature, is embodied by Jack, whose first impulse on the island is to track, hunt, and kill pigs. He seeks to impose his human will on the natural world, subjugating it to his desires. Jack's later actions, in particular setting the forest fire, reflect his deepening contempt for nature and demonstrate his militaristic, violent character. The second category, harmony with nature, is embodied by Simon, who finds beauty and peace in the natural environment as exemplified by his initial retreat to the isolated forest glade. For Simon, nature is not man's enemy but is part of the human experience. The third category, subservience to nature, is embodied by Ralph and is the opposite position from Jack's. Unlike Simon, Ralph does not find peaceful harmony with the natural world; like Jack, he understands it as an obstacle to human life on the island. But while Jack responds to this perceived conflict by acting destructively towards animals and plant life, Ralph responds by retreating from the natural world. He does not participate in hunting or in Simon's excursions to the deep wilderness of the forest; rather, he stays on the beach, the most humanized part of the island. As Jack's hunting expresses his violent nature to the other boys and to the reader, Ralph's desire to stay separate from the natural world emphasizes both his reluctance to tempt danger and his affinity for civilization.

Dehumanization of Relationships

In Lord of the Flies , one of the effects of the boys' descent into savagery is their increasing inability to recognize each other's humanity. Throughout the novel, Golding uses imagery to imply that the boys are no longer able to distinguish between themselves and the pigs they are hunting and killing for food and sport. In Chapter Four, after the first successful pig hunt, the hunters re-enact the hunt in a ritual dance, using Maurice as a stand-in for the doomed pig. This episode is only a dramatization, but as the boys' collective impulse towards complete savagery grows stronger, the parallels between human and animal intensify. In Chapter Seven, as several of the boys are hunting the beast, they repeat the ritual with Robert as a stand-in for the pig; this time, however, they get consumed by a kind of "frenzy" and come close to actually killing him. In the same scene, Jack jokes that if they do not kill a pig next time, they can kill a littlun in its place. The repeated substitution of boy for pig in the childrens' ritual games, and in their conversation, calls attention to the consequences of their self-gratifying behavior: concerned only with their own base desires, the boys have become unable to see each other as anything more than objects subject to their individual wills. The more pigs the boys kill, the easier it becomes for them to harm and kill each other. Mistreating the pigs facilitates this process of dehumanization.

The early episodes in which boys are substituted for pigs, either verbally or in the hunting dance, also foreshadow the tragic events of the novel's later chapters, notably the murders of Simon and Piggy and the attempt on Ralph's life. Simon, a character who from the outset of the novel is associated with the natural landscape he has an affinity for, is murdered when the other children mistake him for "the beast"-a mythical inhuman creature that serves as an outlet for the children's fear and sadness. Piggy's name links him symbolically to the wild pigs on the island, the immediate target for Jack's violent impulses; from the outset, when the other boys refuse to call him anything but "Piggy," Golding establishes the character as one whose humanity is, in the eyes of the other boys, ambiguous. The murders of Simon and Piggy demonstrate the boys' complete descent into savagery. Both literally (Simon) and symbolically (Piggy), the boys have become indistinguishable from the animals that they stalk and kill.

The Loss of Innocence

At the end of Lord of the Flies , Ralph weeps "for the end of innocence," a lament that retroactively makes explicit one of the novel's major concerns, namely, the loss of innocence. When the boys are first deserted on the island, they behave like children, alternating between enjoying their freedom and expressing profound homesickness and fear. By the end of the novel, however, they mirror the warlike behavior of the adults of the Home Counties: they attack, torture, and even murder one another without hesitation or regret. The loss of the boys' innocence on the island runs parallel to, and informs their descent into savagery, and it recalls the Bible's narrative of the Fall of Man from paradise.

Accordingly, the island is coded in the early chapters as a kind of paradise, with idyllic scenery, fresh fruit, and glorious weather. Yet, as in the Biblical Eden, the temptation toward corruption is present: the younger boys fear a "snake-thing." The "snake-thing" is the earliest incarnation of the "beast" that, eventually, will provoke paranoia and division among the group. It also explicitly recalls the snake from the Garden of Eden, the embodiment of Satan who causes Adam and Eve's fall from grace. The boys' increasing belief in the beast indicates their gradual loss of innocence, a descent that culminates in tragedy. We may also note that the landscape of the island itself shifts from an Edenic space to a hellish one, as marked by Ralph's observation of the ocean tide as an impenetrable wall, and by the storm that follows Simon's murder.

The forest glade that Simon retreats to in Chapter Three is another example of how the boys' loss of innocence is registered on the natural landscape of the island. Simon first appreciates the clearing as peaceful and beautiful, but when he returns, he finds The Lord of the Flies impaled at its center, a powerful symbol of how the innocence of childhood has been corrupted by fear and savagery.

Even the most sympathetic boys develop along a character arc that traces a fall from innocence (or, as we might euphemize, a journey into maturity). When Ralph is first introduced, he is acting like a child, splashing in the water, mocking Piggy, and laughing. He tells Piggy that he is certain that his father, a naval commander, will rescue him, a conviction that the reader understands as the wishful thinking of a little boy. Ralph repeats his belief in their rescue throughout the novel, shifting his hope that his own father will discover them to the far more realistic premise that a passing ship will be attracted by the signal fire on the island. By the end of the novel, he has lost hope in the boys' rescue altogether. The progression of Ralph's character from idealism to pessimistic realism expresses the extent to which life on the island has eradicated his childhood.

The Negative Consequences of War

In addition to its other resonances, Lord of the Flies is in part an allegory of the Cold War. Thus, it is deeply concerned with the negative effects of war on individuals and for social relationships. Composed during the Cold War, the novel's action unfolds from a hypothetical atomic war between England and "the Reds," which was a clear word for communists. Golding thus presents the non-violent tensions that were unfolding during the 1950s as culminating into a fatal conflict-a narrative strategy that establishes the novel as a cautionary tale against the dangers of ideological, or "cold," warfare, becoming hot. Moreover, we may understand the conflict among the boys on the island as a reflection of the conflict between the democratic powers of the West and the communist presence throughout China, Eastern Europe, and the Soviet Union. (China's cultural revolution had not yet occurred, but its communist revolution was fresh in Western memory.) Ralph, an embodiment of democracy, clashes tragically with Jack, a character who represents a style of military dictatorship similar to the West's perception of communist leaders such as Joseph Stalin and Mao Zedong. Dressed in a black cape and cap, with flaming red hair, Jack also visually evokes the "Reds" in the fictional world of the novel and the historical U.S.S.R., whose signature colors were red and black. As the tension between the boys comes to a bloody head, the reader sees the dangerous consequences of ideological conflict.

The arrival of the naval officer at the conclusion of the narrative underscores these allegorical points. The officer embodies war and militaristic thinking, and as such, he is symbolically linked to the brutal Jack. The officer is also English and thus linked to the democratic side of the Cold War, which the novel vehemently defends. The implications of the officer's presence are provocative: Golding suggests that even a war waged in the name of civilization can reduce humanity to a state of barbarism. The ultimate scene of the novel, in which the boys weep with grief for the loss of their innocence, implicates contemporary readers in the boys' tragedy. The boys are representatives, however immature and untutored, of the wartime impulses of the period.

Lord of the Flies Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Lord of the Flies is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Where had Simon fainted before?

From the text:

“He's always throwing a faint,”said Merridew. “He did in Gib.; and Addis; and at matins over the precentor.”

Quote Analysis. "There was a throb..."

At this point Ralph is once again challenging Jack's authority, Unfortunately all the cards are stacked against Ralph. A storm is brewing and to deflect the boys' fears, Jack orders them to dance around the fire. This communal spectacle of...

How do the boys respond to Jack's call for Ralph's removal as chief? How does Jack react? Respond with evidence from the text.

There is a lot of immaturity here. The other boys refuse to vote Ralph out of power. Enraged, Jack has a tantrum and runs away from the group, saying that he is leaving and that anyone who likes is welcome to join him.The boys don't like the open...

Study Guide for Lord of the Flies

Lord of the Flies study guide contains a biography of William Golding, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Lord of the Flies
• Lord of the Flies Summary
• Lord of the Flies Video
• Character List

Essays for Lord of the Flies

Lord of the Flies essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Lord of the Flies by William Golding.

• Two Faces of Man
• The Relationship Between Symbolism and Theme in Lord of the Flies
• A Tainted View of Society
• Death and Social Collapse in Lord of the Flies
• Lumination: The Conquest of Mankind's Darkness

Lesson Plan for Lord of the Flies

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to Lord of the Flies
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• Lord of the Flies Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for Lord of the Flies

• Introduction