The Lord of The Flies – English Essay

The Lord of The Flies – English Essay
There could be many factors contributed to the boy’s destruction of society on the island. But, the main factors are proven in three of the many themes. The struggle for power between Ralph and Jack led to

destruction of the island because power can be either used or abused. The dark side of human nature can also contribute because it is the evil in people that brings out the worst in them. Finally the fear of the unknown also led to destruction because what people fear can cause them to do things that can cause harm or hurt to others or themselves. In the novel, Lord of the Flies, by William Golding the struggle for power, the dark side of human nature, and the fear of the unknown all contribute to the destruction of the boy’s makeshift society on the island.

To begin with, the constant battle for power ultimately leads to the breakdown of society on the island. The first instance of the struggle for power is between Ralph and Jack. This is shown clearly when Jack says “He’s not a hunter. He’d never got us meat. He isn’t perfect and we don’t know anything about him. He just gives orders and expects people to obey him for nothing. All this talk—“(Golding,140). This quote illustrates the back and forth battle between Ralph and Jack. They both share common differences which contradict each other. One might want one thing while the other would want another, this would make it difficult on the group as they would have to choose which person to follow. Secondly, Jacks craving for power also leads to the breakdown of society when Jack states “Who thinks Ralph oughtn’t to be chief, hands up, whoever wants Ralph not to be chief?”(140). This quote shows how Jack is in constant need of power and how is always attempting to take power from the chief, Ralph. He believes that the strongest should rule with brute force and therefore he should be chief. Also, by taking the power from Ralph he believes that there will be no more interference as Ralph could be the only one to oppose him. Jack tries to use authoritian power to try and gain control. Lastly, Jacks persistent battle with Ralph to gain control and be chief and lead the tribe is demonstrated when Jack says “Listen all of you. Me and my hunters are living along the beach at the flat rock. We hunt and feast and have fun. If you want to join come and see us. Perhaps we’ll let you join. Perhaps not”(155). In this instance, after jack is turned down for leader in the original tribe leaves to create his own tribe thus leaving the group demolished. He believes that the tribe Ralph is leading is not proper and he is the only chief on the island. To end off with, the craving and struggle for power ultimately lead to the destruction of society the boys created on the island.

To start off with, the darkness of the human heart can also be blamed for destruction of society on the island. Firstly, the boys start off as innocent boys looking for rescue but later turn dark as proven in the quote “The afternoon wore on, hazy and dreadful with damp heat; The sow staggered her way ahead of them, bleeding and mad, the hunters followed wedded to her in lust. Excited by the long chase and the dropped blood.”. This quote shows the boys dark thirst for blood. Later in the novel the boys completely dismiss their old values by constantly killing. Even the courageous leader Ralph has his hand at killing. All this killing shows how the darkness of humans can be shown. Also, the boys show darkness again in the killing of Simon “At once the crowd surged after it, poured down the rock and leaped on the beast, screamed, struck, bit, tore. There were no words, no movements but the tearing of teeth and claws.”(168). The darkest act of the boys is the killing of Simon because all the boys can be blamed for his death not just a few. This diminishes all that is good and proper on the island. Simon is sacrificed to stop darkness just as Jesus was. Finally, the boys darkness is proven again in the killing of the wise Piggy shown in this quote

“Piggys arms and legs twitched a bit, like a pigs after its been killed. Then the sea breathed again, in a long, slow sigh, the water boiled white and pink over the rock and when it went back again, sucking in, the body of piggy was gone.”(200)

To Justify, the selfishness that comes along with the darkness lead to the death of the rational thinking on the island. The darkness that was shown in piggys killing is at the point of the novel where all the boys except Ralph are savages. The savagery of the boys shows how dark the human soul can become. The evil that comes along with the darkness of human nature and the deaths of simon and piggy help lead to destruction of society.