Lord of the Flies Nature of Man - 1726 Words

Lord of the Flies: The Nature of Man William Golding’s Lord of the Flies is a gritty allegory of adolescence, innocence, and the unspoken side of human nature. Countless social issues are portrayed, however one of the most reoccurring is the nature of man. Throughout the novel there is an ever-present focus on the loss of innocence amongst the boys, shown by the deterioration of social skills and their retrogression into a barbaric form of society. Also portrayed is the juxtaposition of a cruel, evil main character and a more classically good counterpart, and their eternal rivalry for power and authority over their younger subjects. Does society or the lack thereof create evil in human nature, or simply magnify a pre-existing†¦show more content†¦Jack, negatively portrayed in comparison to Ralph, tempts the boys with an array of forbidden treats, indulging their most violent, suppressed desires in an attempt to lull them away from the security of Ralph. In a sens e, Jack is negatively compared to Ralph throughout the novel, and is often portrayed as confused and violent, very aware of the evil inside of him: â€Å"The real problem that arises among the boys involves their own inner nature†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Johnston 2). When his plan fails, Jack feels as though his seat of power is threatened and therefore resorts to terrorizing, threatening and essentially forcing the boys to join him and align themselves against Ralph, alienating them from their former, comfortable life-style and thus making what they once failed to appreciate all the more desirable. Once these boys join Jack’s tribe, they are forced to follow his orders, committing heinous atrocities against their former friends in a desperate attempt to avoid the physical punishment Jack inflicts on those who disobey him. Jack rules his subjects through fear and intimidation, and yet lures them in by playing on hidden desires unbeknownst to them. Jack is often shown acting cruel and menacing towards the other boys, however is he also shown as being self-conscious and a bit insecure: â€Å"Boys are desperate to distract from their own helplessness and do so by projecting their fear of subjection onto an even weakerShow MoreRelatedThe Nature of Man in The Lord of the Flies by William Golding577 Words   |  2 PagesThe Nature of Man On the tail end of WWII, the world was in ruins, the allies had won, but so much and so many had still been lost. It was a glimpse into the true horror that men were capable of. Amidst bloodshed and suffering it is understandable that William Golding would have great difficulty viewing men as naturally good. He argues in his novel, â€Å"The Lord of the Flies† that men need rules and society to keep peace and that if they were to leave that they would fall into chaos, but his argumentsRead More Comparing Nature of Man in Island of Dr. Moreau and Lord of the Flies4645 Words   |  19 PagesNature of Man Exposed in Island of Dr. Moreau and Lord of the Flies  Ã‚        Ã‚   Throughout the natural history of mankind, the human race has always held a notion of its predominance over all other creations of nature. Man has long believed that he is somehow morally superior to all other creatures, motivated by a higher source than basic instincts. 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The novels, Lord of The Flies by William Golding and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, demonstrate this prospect as through the narrative techniques of characterisation, plot, setting and style, they exemplify the moral decline of man under pressure t o survive, ultimately resulting in savagery. Characterisation plays a major role in both textsRead MoreEssay on Lord of the Flies by William Golding954 Words   |  4 Pagesdetailed look at the book, Lord of the Flies, is a simple fable about boys stranded on an island. Another way to comprehend the book is as a statement about mans inner savage and reverting to a primitive state without societies boundaries. By examining the Lord of the Flies further, it is revealed that many themes portray Golding’s views, including a religious persecution theme. 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