Savagery or Evil Within Each of Us : Lord of the Flies
Savagery and Evil Within Each of Us
In William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies”, the characters are comprised of a small group of adolescent boys stranded on a Pacific Island due to a plane crash during World War II. The characters range from six to twelve years of age and display a variety of character traits. With every adult on board dead, the children are left to care for themselves, make their own rules, and deal with their new found freedom. As the story progresses, savagery and corruption in the young boys’ minds begin to increase the level of conflict in the society they have been forced to create. We come to understand that even though the boys are seemingly oblivious to the lack of civilization in their every-day life on the island, they begin to fight hard for the way they each feel their group should function. For example, according to Swisher “The boys feel a sense of entitlement.” (32). The rising conflict due to the lack of authority on the island creates a sense of urgency to find a new leader. This book explores how human nature yearns for a sense of society and civilization even in the most savage situations.
Early on in the book, two of the main characters, Jack and Ralph, begin to represent the two parts of the island. Jack is leader of the hunters, and he eventually seems to lose his sense of
empathy and concern for others mental and emotional well-being when he makes hunting his main, and then only, priority. “Jacks arrogant personality paralleled his height and authority. From early onset Jack’s had the desire to be the Chief. When the idea of having a Chief was mentioned Jack spoke out immediately. “I ought to be chief,” said Jack with simple arrogance, “because Im chapter chorister and head boy.” (Golding 23). Even when leading his choir, he did
so by administering unnecessary amounts of discipline, resulting in forced obedience from the cloaked boys. His ill-nature was well expressed through his impoliteness in saying, “Shut up, Fatty.” at Piggy (Golding 23). What were hurtful emotional comments in the beginning eventually turned to the physical death of Piggy.
Jack wants to be a leader and displays his need for independence by leaving Ralph’s group and letting all the other boys know that his tribe will be more “fun”. However, the word fun takes on a new meaning in Jacks tribe as the main focus becomes killing things. Slowly but surely, it is then, taken to the next, very incomprehensible level: killing other members. Humans are slowly thought to be no different from animals and killed due to Jack’s increasing lack of self-control.
Ralph, on the other hand, is first introduced as a fair and likeable boy. His confident manner made him feel safe on the island without any adults. Furthermore, his conversations with the other boys, including Piggy were mostly pleasant