Download Lord of the Flies: Themes

Lord of the Flies: Introduction Notes
Lord of the Flies: Themes
1.
Concentrates on the consideration of human evil, a complex topic that involves an examination not only of human nature
but also the causes, effects, and manifestations of evil.
-The Problem of Evil:
Golding described the novel’s theme as “an attempt to trace the defects of society back to the defects of human nature”.
“The theme of Lord of the Flies is grief, sheer grief, grief, grief”
The boys in the novel discover within themselves the urge to inflict pain and enjoyed the accompanying rush of power.
Golding places supposedly innocent schoolboys in the protected environments of an uninhabited tropical island to illustrate
the point that savagery is not confined to certain people in particular environments but exists in everyone as a stain on, if not a
dominator of, the nobler side of human nature.
The theme is an attempt to trace the defects of 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.
Golding shows the reader that “ethical nature” in not inherent in mankind. Indeed, there is a certain capacity for evil that
resides in an; his morality is simply superficial. Nonetheless, it is this moral integrity that must prevail in order for him to be ethical
and thus for society to be maintained. Without this suppression society caves in upon itself, lawlessness reins and life becomes a freefor-all.
-Contemporary Outlets for Violence:
Most societies set up mechanisms to channel aggressive impulses into productive enterprises or projects. On the island,
Jack’s hunters are successful in providing meat for the group because they tap into their innate ability to commit violence.
Violence continues to exist in modern society and is institutionalized in the military and politics. Golding establishes this
theme by having his characters establish a democratic assembly.
-The Effects of Fear:
Golding addresses the effects of fear on the individual and on a group. For individuals, fear distorts reality.
-Speech and Silence:
Golding gives a more subtle treatment to the theme concerning speech’s role in civilization. He represents verbal
communication as the sole property of civilization while savagery is non-verbal, or silent. The jungle emanates a silence that even the
hunter Jack finds intimidating. All the boys find the silence threatening; they become agitated when a speaker holding the conch in
assembly falls silent.
The conch plays a key role in this theme because it symbolizes not only the power to speak during assembly but also the
power of speech, an ability that separates humans from animals. Verbal communication is crucial to the development of abstract
thought. Silence is tremendously threatening because death does signify absolute, and the end of all hope.
-Looking Down on Others:
Often times people single out another person, or another group of people to look down upon in order
to feel secure. Piggy’s character personifies this societal flaw, as he is always shunned and made fun of.
Lord of the Flies
Important Characters:
1.
Ralph: 12 years old with blond hair. The most charismatic of the group. Is initially chosen as leader due to his many
positive qualities. He maintains a conflict with Jack throughout the novel, attempting to keep order whereas Jack isn’t
concerned with it.
Symbolizes: law, order, organized society, democracy, and a moral integrity. He constantly makes
commonsense rules for the boys to follow. As chief, he knows right from wrong.
2.
Jack: 12 years old with red hair. From the very beginning, he seems to harbor emotions of anger and savagery. At first he
is the leader of his coir group, who become hunters as the book progresses.
Symbolizes: savagery and anarchy. He is the perpetrator for more than one death on the island, and wished to
spend his time hunting and killing instead of helping Ralph with rescue.
3.
Piggy: around the same age as Ralph and Jack. He is short and overweight. He also wears glasses and is afflicted with
asthma. He tries very hard to cling to civilization, and tries his best to keep peace. He is the smartest boy on the island, but
lacks social skills, and has trouble communication or fitting in with the others.
Symbolizes: knowledge, morality, and social order. He is the closest representation of a mature authority
figure. This does not go over well with some of the other boys on the island who want to have fun and ignore
the social rules of a civilized society.
4.
Simon: younger than the three boys above, but older than other littluns. He is very good and pure, and has the most
positive outlook on the island. He often travels into his tranquil spot in the jungle, but also tries to help out when it is
needed. Seen as a mystic figure that is ridiculed by the other boys.
Symbolizes: pure goodness, a “Christ Figure.” He is the complete opposite of Roger and Jack. His jungle
hideout resembles the garden of “Eden”.
5.
Sam and Eric (Samneric): two young twins who always travel and do everything together. Without each other they are
incapable of very much. While seemingly loyal to Ralph, they eventually give up in to Jack’s threats and join his tribe.
Symbolizes:reliance and unity. Because of this, they become like one person referred to as Samneric. They are
the followers who can’t function without the other. They need a leader and will end up following the one they
fear.
6.
Rodger: a self proclaimed torturer and executioner for Jack and the rest. In the beginning of the book he throws stones at
Henry.
Symbolizes: man’s natural tendency to cause harm to others
Important Symbols:
1.
Piggy’s Glasses: used over and over again to start fires. Piggy’s constant polishing of them show his desire for clearsightedness and civilization. He wants to see a civilized democratic society work for the boys on the island. Voice of
reason/logic.
2.
The Cronch: like Jack, this represents democracy and order. It is used to hold meetings, and the person holding the conch is
the only one who is aloud to speak. Eventually the symbol of the conch is ignored and order breaks down. When Rodger
destroys conch, anarchy ensues.
3.
The Island: a microcosm representing the world. The boat shape of the island is an ancient symbol of civilization. The
water current around the island seems to be “flowing backwards,” giving the subtle impression that civilization may be
going backwards for the island or its inhabitants.
4.
The “Scar”: man’s destruction, destructive forces. The “scar” is created by man made technology, a plane. It shows the
raging ongoing battle between the pureness of nature and the uncaring forces of technology.
5.
Beast: the beast, the lord of the Flies, is seen as a real object on the island and which frightens the boys. Actually, the beast
is something mentioned: the Lord of the Flies is in the mind and body of the boys. To only Simon understands who the
beast is but he’s laughed at when he tries to tell the boys this.
6.
Facepaint: this is the excuse many of the boys use for living as humanity savages. The paint serves as a tool the beast uses
to infiltrate the boys souls.
7.
Fire and Smoke: represents last hope. To Piggy and Ralph it represents moral influence when fire goes out, Ralph does his
bear stripes and the fire is diatonically opposed to hurting the activity of anarchy.
8.
Parachute Man: the dead body flying in the parachute symbolizes the end of adult supervision. Simon has a special
connection with him. When he finds out the man is dead and the Beast is alive (anarchy) he has a nervous breakdown. The
moral confrontation which occurs when Simon has the interview with the Lord of the Flies symbolizes man’s inability to
conqueror the evil anarchy of the devil.
9.
Beelzebub: Old Testament/ Hebrew. New Testament refers to Satin. Beel- Lord, zebub-large destructive fly.
Lord of the Flies
Class Discussion Topics
1.
2.
3.
Pair up students.
Assign pairs to discuss and respond to the assigned topic. They need to be prepared to discuss their response with the class.
Use this discussion to lead into Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.
Topics:
1. Abraham Lincoln said, “Human nature can be modified to some extent but human nature cannot be changed.”
2. Qualities of a leader: What are good ones? What are poor ones? Why?
3. Good vs. Evil- Who decides what is good? Who decides what is evil?
4. Explain the meaning of this quote and respond whether you agree of disagree. Why? “The conditions of life within society
are closely related to the moral integrity of its members.”
5. “Every person has a dark side to his nature, an evil part, which causes evil in this world.” Assume this is correct, what does
society provide to control this evil from destroying things. Provide an example.
6. Society needs rules. Do you agree? Why? If you disagree, why?
7. Explain manipulation by providing a real life example. Additionally, what factors are usually present when manipulation
occurs?