Hidden Savages Essay

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Harjot Kaur 1-5-2015 Social Justice Mr. Ekstrom, 6 Hidden Savages Lord of Flies, by William Golding, is a novel that examines the controversial aspects of human nature and the implications for society. It is an important and relevant piece of literature for American youth because not only is it simply a book about outward the conflict between individuals, it is, rather, a novel about one's inner being. It shows the innate savagery existing in all men, the loss of innocence, law vs. anarchy and good vs. evil. Golding reveals a truth about mankind and how it would react without civilization. The overall theme and message of this novel is to show that civil and savage nature lies in all human beings. Lord of flies is a necessary manual for an…show more content…
It can happen at any age or not at all. In the end of the novel, when Ralph sees the officer arriving on the island, Ralph weeps for the “loss of innocence, and the darkness in men’s heart” (202), showing that he has realized the truth about the evil that resides in each of us, and how it finally came to take over most of the children in the island. Even innocent Ralph is capable of murder. Golding wants us to tell the readers that everyone has the potential to do cruel things. Another character that lost his innocence is Jack when he became more of a savage than a schoolboy. Because earlier in the novel, he fears killing the pig and soon he overcomes his fear. Rather than finding the blood unbearable, he lusts for it. “They knew very well why he hadn't: because of the enormity of the knife descending and cutting into living flesh; because of the unbearable blood” (31). This is the first scene where Jack starts to change into a hunter and starts to lose his innocence. In a short amount of time, Jack has lost his all values and obedience for rules and started killing people. The beauty of this novel is realizing that those hidden attributes could be inside all of

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