Civilization And Savagery In William Golding's Lord Of The Flies

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Lord of the Flies was first published in 1954 and went on to become one of the most read novels of the 21st Century. It depicts Golding’s vision of a crumbled and torn world was brought very vividly in the novel. The two World wars had a huge impact on the entire society and literature was highly influenced by this drastic blow. The characters in Lord of the Flies dramatize the conflict between the civilization and savagery; it shows that these instincts are present in every human being. The plot of the novel is designed in such that it emphasizes the struggle between the ordering elements of society. It throws light upon several issues related to morality, law, and culture, along with the chaotic elements like the savagery witnessed during the two World Wars. The main characters are shown struggling with issues related to…show more content…
The characters are also symbolic giving an allegorical quality to it. Ralph and Jack are seen in complete contrast where one stands for civilization, law and order and the other stands for the darker human instincts. Piggy is the voice of logic and rationality. He is the only one from the beginning who does not believe in the existence of a beast. His knowledge of science does not permit him to do so. Simon’s act of talking to the beast can be inferred as the inner voice of every human being who has certain fears. The savage instinct of the boys overpowers their need for social structure leading to a complete downfall. Ironically we see the complete downfall after Piggy’s death, so when the voice of reason dies everything crumbles down leaving the boys in a state of extreme pity. Along with the characters the things present on the island also carry symbolic significance. The conch stands for law and order whereas the beast stands for the inner fears present in man. The characters have to learn to deal with and overcome their fears and instincts in order to survive in the

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