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Lord of the Flies

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In the novel "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding, a group of English school boys is stranded on an island, leading to a depiction of civilization's descent into savagery amidst the absence of adult supervision. The author uses symbolism throughout the book to explore themes of human nature, society, and the consequences of unchecked behavior. The narrative delves into the darker side of humanity, portraying the struggle between order and chaos as the boys attempt to survive and navigate the complexities of power dynamics within their group.

Characters:

Characters like Ralph, Jack, and Piggy represent different aspects of human nature, with Ralph advocating for civilization, Jack embodying savagery, and Piggy symbolizing reason.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by straightforward yet evocative prose, employing strong imagery to enhance themes, though some find it clunky.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around a group of British schoolboys stranded on an island due to a plane crash, leading to a struggle for power and survival, with themes of civilization versus savagery.

Setting:

The setting is a deserted tropical island that serves as a contrasting backdrop for the boys' descent from civilization into savagery.

Pacing:

The pacing varies, starting slowly but accelerating towards the climax, where tension and chaos ensue.
The boy with fair hair lowered himself down the last few feet of rock and began to pick his way toward the lagoon. Though he had taken off his school sweater and trailed it now from one hand, his grey...

Notes:

The novel "Lord of the Flies" was first published in 1954 by William Golding.
Golding uses a group of British schoolboys stranded on an island to explore human nature.
The boys initially attempt to establish order but quickly descend into savagery.
Characters in the book symbolize different aspects of society: Ralph represents democracy, Jack symbolizes totalitarianism, and Piggy embodies intellect.
The title "Lord of the Flies" refers to a literal translation of the name Beelzebub, representing evil.
Golding was influenced by his experiences as a schoolteacher and a naval officer in World War II when writing the book.
The story critiques the notion of the 'noble savage' by showing how quickly civilized behavior can unravel without societal restraints.
Many schools have included "Lord of the Flies" in their curricula, making it a staple of literary education but also a subject of controversy due to its themes and violence.
The novel ends with a naval officer rescuing the boys, highlighting the irony of their savagery compared to the war ongoing in the outside world.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include violence, death, bullying, and themes of savagery.

From The Publisher:

First published in 1954, William Golding's debut novel, now a classic, is a stark story of survival, probing the depths of human nature, and what happens when civilization collapses. As dystopian stories like The Hunger Games and Battle Royale surge in popularity, this haunting tale of a group of young boys stranded on a desert island still captivates schoolchildren around the world, raising timeless and profound questions about how easily society can slip into chaos and savagery when rules and order have been abandoned.

When a plane crashes on a remote island, a group of schoolboys are the sole survivors. As the reality of their situation sets in, the boys attempt to establish control and their world gradually descends into brutal savagery. As Catcher in the Rye became the classic coming-of-age tale, Lord of the Flies is the classic story of innocence lost.

A teacher himself, Golding clearly understood how to interest children with a gripping story and strong, sympathetic characters. The novel serves as a catalyst for thought-provoking discussion and analysis of universal issues, not only concerning the capabilities of humans for good and evil and the fragility of moral inhibition, but beyond. The boys' struggle to find a way of existing in a community with no fixed boundaries invites readers to evaluate the concepts involved in social and political constructs and moral frameworks. Symbolism is strong throughout, revealing both the boys' capacity for empathy and hope, as well as illuminating the darkest corners of the human spirit. Ideas of community, leadership, and the rule of law are called into question as the reader has to consider who has a right to power, why, and what the consequences of the acquisition of power may be. All of these concerns are current today and can be easily related to the novel through effective teaching and learning.

Ratings (695)

Incredible (65)
Loved It (199)
Liked It (188)
It Was OK (131)
Did Not Like (73)
Hated It (39)

Reader Stats (1053):

Read It (746)
Currently Reading (6)
Want To Read (181)
Did Not Finish (12)
Not Interested (108)

11 comment(s)

Did Not Like
1 day

I know that this is a classic and I am expected to love it, but I from what I remember this is supposed to be a commentary o.n human nature. I always felt it failed to acknowledge how the hegemony of capitalism and Protestant colonialism actually subvert our needs to work and live communally.

 

Been wanting to read Lord of the flies for years but not been able to find it. This have to be one of my favorite classic novels, I absolutely flew through it and was mesmerized by the story, felt like I was on the Island with them. It has so much to think about, to pick apart from the story, and I kinda feel sad I didn't read this for school.

 
Did Not Like
1 week

“Lord of the Flies” is Interesting yet tragic novel showing the mental and physical decline of a group of British schoolboys as well as a loss of childhood innocence. The main characters of the book are Ralph, Piggy, and Jack Merridew. Ralph assumes the role as leader early on while Piggy takes on the role of a follower. After Ralph and Piggy have worked to establish rules and laws for the group on the island, they encounter a group of other boys lead by Jack Merridew and Jack takes the lead role as a rebel.

The novel consists of twelve chapters and within these twelve chapters, the reader sees the boys transform from excited children discovering they’re alone on an island without adults into a pack of murderous savages. Although rules are initially made regarding how things will be run, Jack soon abandons the rules in favor of a world separated by biguns (big kids) and littleuns (little kids.) Jack also leads a rebellion and works to separate the boys by hunters and non-hunters which drives a deeper wedge into Ralph’s serving as leader on the island.By the end of the novel, Ralph, Piggy, and Jack are forever changed by their time on the island.

I rated this book as ok because although the book provides a excellent example of how quickly people can change from sensible to savage, I would’ve liked more backstory on the other boys instead of only focusing on Ralph, Piggy, and Jack.

 
It Was OK
1 month

Very gritty

 
Loved It
5 months

Read this as a child. Saw the 1960s film as well. Left an impression. Very good and very disturbing.

 
Hated It
6 months

I was forced to read this at school. It's depressing, sad and not worth even reading. It could be that the study of the symbolism within the pages has left me scarred, but it could just as easily be that this book was just bad.

 
Liked It
6 months

the human condition is to destroy itself according to Golding

 
It Was OK
7 months

This isn't a book to enjoy. It's disturbing and brutal, which is what it's meant to be. While I appreciate the quality of Golding's writing, his view of human nature is terribly dark. Given the state of things today, it's tempting to agree with him, but if we're such an irredeemable species, why are we even trying to do better?


Good food for thought, but dangerously bleak.

 
Did Not Like
7 months

Not a huge fan of the writing style. Interesting story but the ending was lacking a bit.

 
Loved It
7 months

I had planned to read this book for a long time, but right now probably wasn't a good time to do it.

It's a strong and harsh story. I guess I did not expect it completely, because I have always heard that it is a book for teenagers. But maybe because I read it as an adult it made such a big impression on me. Now, more than when I was younger, I realize that this is really just a group of vulnerable children left alone when they have to fend for themselves. No adults, no outside help, no modern technology, no tools. And they can only rely on their elementary knowledge and experience. I think that as an adult I am able to pay more attention to the helplessness and vulnerability of these children. They were given a task that many adults would not be able to cope with.

At the same time, in my opinion, the author used children very efficiently to show the world of adults. Do we really believe that adults would do better in this situation? We can, of course, claim that they are only children an this is why they make stupid mistakes, argue about unnecessary things, unable to control the situation. But in my opinion, it is only a mirror image of the adult world.

The reaction of adults to the situation on the island is also very significant and symbolic. But it reflects quite well not only the way adults think about children and the unrealistic expectations they have for them. The reaction of adults quite well illustrates the views of people from the outside, who believe that in a given, very difficult, situation they would have done much better. This is probably also the first moment when we realize how young all these boys really are.

I'm glad I read this book, even if it wasn't the right time for this story.

 
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About the Author:

William Golding was born in Cornwall in 1911 and was educated at Marlborough Grammar School and at Brasenose College, Oxford. Before he became a schoolmaster he was an actor, a lecturer, a small-boat sailor and a musician. A now rare volume, Poems, appeared in 1934. In 1940 he joined the Royal Navy and saw action against battleships, and also took part in the pursuit of the Bismarck. He finished the war as a Lieutenant in command of a rocket ship, which was off the French coast for the D-Day invasion, and later at the island of Walcheren.After the war he returned to Bishop Wordsworth's School in Salisbury and was there when his first novel, Lord of the Flies, was published in 1954. He gave up teaching in 1961. Lord of the Flies was filmed by Peter Brook in 1963. Golding listed his hobbies as music, chess, sailing, archaeology and classical Greek (which he taught himself). Many of these subjects appear in his essay collections The Hot Gates and A Moving Target.He won the Booker Prize for his novel Rites of Passage in 1980, and was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1983. He was knighted in 1988. He died at his home in the summer of 1993. The Double Tongue, a novel left in draft at his death, was published in June 1995.In 2008, The Times ranked Golding third on their list of "The 50 greatest British writers since 1945".

 
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