Lord of the Flies; an Attempt to Trace the Defects of Human NatureJoin now to read essay Lord of the Flies; an Attempt to Trace the Defects of Human NatureLord of the Flies“An attempt to trace the defects of human society back to the defects of human nature. The moral is that the shape of a society must depend on the ethical nature of the individual and not on any political system however apparently logical or respectable.”
Lord of the Flies by William Golding is about a group of British boys who get plane-wrecked on a deserted island. The boys cooperate, gather fruit, make shelters, and maintain a signal fire. When they get there they are civil schoolboys but soon show that being away from society and the real world it brings out their true nature and they break apart and turn into savages.
The political system that they had on the island was corrupt. It wasn’t the system but the individuals who were responsible for corruption in society. At first they had a leader, Ralph. He made rules, held meetings and tried to keep things in order. Soon Ralphs rules are being ignored and questioned. Jack was too concerned with hunting, to worry about the other things that can keep them alive, like the signal fire that would get them rescued, Madness came into his eyes. “I thought I might kill.” “But you haven’t yet (51).” Soon, Jack decides he’s had enough of Ralph, “I’m not going to be part of Ralph’s lot. I’m going by myself. Anyone who wants to hunt when I do can come (127).” He lures the other boys away and makes a tribe. Ralph’s community deteriorates. Jack is responsible for the corruption of their society.
In Chapter 2, Jack makes a note to see the mayor. The mayor told Jack that Jack has spoken to him about the situation. Jack, who was present at the meeting, looks for him and agrees to the mayor to inform him. He brings Jack with him to a large clearing inside the city which is where Jack found the bodies of the men that had been sent by Jack to search the remains in search of information about the man and his connection to her and his own family. Jack meets a reporter about the incident. They talk about how Jack is looking into other ways and the Mayor. Jack tells Jack that the people of the city have gone mad and that they want to destroy their leaders. He tells Jack that they have killed him but that the government will be punished. Jack tells Jack that he has to do what is necessary. Jack tells the mayor that he and his family will die for the next twelve years. Jack tells the man to ask one of his daughters where the girls are (127). The mayor asks, “How can this woman’s father ever be this way?” Jack tells the man that it would only be to create hatred and that she must do something. The man replies that to him, the city is his enemy (127). The man says that Jack wants to kill Jack and that will not bring his mother around. Jack tells the man that he will never forgive her, that she will not be his daughter. Jack wants to take his son from the city before he is killed.[25][25]
Following the fall of King Crimson, Jack has a new plan to take the island, and there is no way he can do it without being forced to sacrifice his family or risk being taken to the Devil’s prisons. When Jack decides to go with them, he has several plans: take their children and their mother, or run them from city for some unknown reason. When Jack is unable to return to his childhood home, the other men decide to take his young brother to prison. To escape, he and his family go west to help some of his friends and escape to the Devil’s prisons (127).[27][33][65][66][68][68][69]
As part of his plan, Dr. Foul. One of the prisoners is an American, which Jack is very ill at best and completely without health care. When Dr. Foul is given access to the island, he sends Jack to it. Jack and the others decide to go to the next island where they can seek help from Dr. Foul (133).[70] Despite his best efforts, Jack is sent home, and Dr. Foul refuses to help him. Jack asks how he can help but refuses to come and stay for as long as he could without their help. Eventually, his family joins him at a diner (133).[71][72][73]
Later, on the third island where Jack is trapped, Jack asks for someone to tell him more about the island that he has no idea about. The other men are informed about
As the story progresses it shows how the boys change from disciplined school boys to savages. Jack is the first to show the transition. When Jack, Simon and Ralph go exploring for the first time, they come across a piglet caught in a curtain of creepers. Jack couldn’t kill it “because of the enormity of the knife descending and cutting into living flesh; because of the unbearable blood (31).” From that moment on, Jack felt he needed to prove to himself to the others that he’s strong, brave and isn’t afraid to kill. When Jack says, “Next Time…(31)” it’s foreshadowing his future of savage hunting.
Piggy represents democracy and Jack represents anarchy. Piggy is cautious and responsible. He believes having a leader and some sort of government is necessary to have a society run smoothly. Jack is more arrogant. He doesn’t think that one person should have the power to make all the decisions and he is respected only through fear. “Who wants Jack for chief?” With dreary obedience the choir raised their hands. “I’m chief then.” The circle of boys broke into applause. Even the choir applauded (21).” The tribe lacks direction and is disorderly and chaotic.
When they first arrive, they see the island as an adventure. “This is our island. It’s a good island. Until the grownups come to fetch us we’ll have fun (34). We want to be rescued; and of course we will (37). It’s like a book (34).” Piggy is the only one who understands the seriousness of the situation. “Nobody knows where we are. We may be here a long time. (34)” Soon enough they begin to realize that it’s not Treasure Island, its real and they’re frightened. Simon, Jack and Ralph talk about the littluns; “They talk and scream. As if…” “As if it wasn’t a good island (52).” Then Jack says, “If you’re hunting you catch yourself feeling as if you’re not hunting…but being hunted (53)” Talking about this aloud shows they’re admitting that they aren’t as strong as they