4.1.1
Human Nature
Human Nature (in a society without rules)
Human Nature (in a society without rules)
Golding uses Lord of the Flies to show the dangers of allowing human nature to run free with no limits or rules.
Savagery
Savagery
- Golding’s experiences of war showed him that anyone can be capable of terrible things.
- In Lord of the Flies, the young, innocent boys quickly descend into cruelty, savagery and evil when they are given the opportunity to take control.
Microcosm
Microcosm
- The island is a microcosm of the real world but has no rules or laws.
- The boys can do what they want, without fear of consequences or repercussion.
Regulations
Regulations
- This allows us to see their true nature, and consider what might happen if our society was not so regulated.
- Golding uses the novel to show the dangers of allowing human nature to run free with no limits or rules.
Human nature
Human nature
- In the novel, Golding places the boys on a deserted island, far from adult civilisation, and allows the reader to watch the result.
- It is almost an experiment of unconstrained human nature.
- Golding felt that if humans were to be removed from the rules, law and order of our societies, then we would naturally fall away from logic and reason, and into savagery.
Symbols
Symbols
- At the start, the boys generally recognise their need for organisation, shelter and a signal fire (so they can be rescued).
- Symbols of order and authority (Piggy’s glasses and the conch shell) are used carefully and are effective at first, but are then broken.
The beast
The beast
- Golding suggests that humans are naturally savage, driven by primal urges (such as hunger, greed, power, dominance, etc.) – this is the “beast” from the novel.
- Throughout the novel, Golding shows how this inner evil of humanity could take control and, if it did, the consequences would be catastrophic.
The Beast
The Beast
Golding uses the island to allow the inner evil of humanity to escape – and to show us the possible consequences of releasing our inner savage impulses.
The beast
The beast
- Piggy says it’s just fear but Simon knows “maybe it’s only us”.
- Representing evil inside, the beast tells Simon it cannot be hunted and destroyed.
Inner evil of humanity
Inner evil of humanity
- Golding uses the island to allow the inner evil of humanity to escape – and to show us the possible consequences of releasing our inner savage impulses.
- The Lord of the Flies told Simon it could not be destroyed, just as the evil within humanity cannot be destroyed.
A warning about power
A warning about power
- Golding uses Simon, Piggy and Ralph to show that, once evil is allowed to take hold of powerful people, even the most moral, innocent, good people will fall.
- The story is a warning about power and abusing control.
Danger
Danger
- By giving the evil side of humanity a name of its own, Golding shows the reader how important and powerful this side can be.
- It is almost an entity of its own, which controls all life.
- This reinforces how dangerous humans can be.
Savagery
Savagery
Golding uses the novel to show that people are basically savage creatures.
Evil
Evil
- In Lord of the Flies, we are shown a small society which appears to be civilised at first, but Golding shows that this apparent civility is just hiding what really lurks within the hearts of people: evil.
Metaphor
Metaphor
- Golding suggests that, even while societies and civilisations thrive and grow, they are only hiding the metaphorical evil beast that lurks within all of us.
The beast
The beast
- This “beast” cannot ever be destroyed, but is just hidden.
- Sometimes, the beastly nature will rear its head, causing horrible things to happen.
- Evil is always waiting for a chance to take over.
Appearance
Appearance
- The boys’ appearance changes as savagery descends.
- They begin as well-dressed, nicely-groomed young men who follow rules and obey orders.
- However, as soon as they are given the chance (by Jack) to rebel against civility, they grab it and abandon their appearance of civilised young boys.
Savage nature
Savage nature
- Then, the brutality of the pig hunt excites the boys and they lose themselves in the mob.
- They then kill Simon.
- As their savage natures begin to be allowed to take hold, they drop further and further into evil, killing and hurting as they go.
1Context
2Story Analysis
2.2Chapter 2
2.3Chapter 3
2.4Chapter 4
2.6Chapter 6
2.7Chapter 7
2.9Chapter 9
2.10Chapter 10
2.11Chapter 11
2.12Chapter 12
3Key Characters
4Key Concepts
5Writing Techniques
Jump to other topics
1Context
2Story Analysis
2.2Chapter 2
2.3Chapter 3
2.4Chapter 4
2.6Chapter 6
2.7Chapter 7
2.9Chapter 9
2.10Chapter 10
2.11Chapter 11
2.12Chapter 12
3Key Characters
4Key Concepts
5Writing Techniques
Unlock your full potential with GoStudent tutoring
Affordable 1:1 tutoring from the comfort of your home
Tutors are matched to your specific learning needs
30+ school subjects covered