Human Nature

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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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

1Context

1.1Context

1.1.1The Title

1.1.2Historical Context

1.1.3End of Topic Test - Context

2Story Analysis

2.1Chapter 1

2.1.1The Sound of the Shell

2.1.2The Sound of the Shell 2

2.2Chapter 2

2.2.1Fire on the Mountain

2.3Chapter 3

2.3.1Huts on the Beach

2.4Chapter 4

2.4.1Painted Faces & Long Hair

2.5Chapter 5

2.5.1Beast from the Water

2.5.2Beast from the Water 2

2.6Chapter 6

2.6.1Beast From the Air

2.7Chapter 7

2.7.1Shadows & Tall Trees

2.8Chapter 8

2.8.1Gift for the Darkness

2.8.2Gift for the Darkness 2

2.8.3Gift for the Darkness 3

2.9Chapter 9

2.9.1A View to a Death

2.10Chapter 10

2.10.1The Shell & the Glasses

2.11Chapter 11

2.11.1Castle Rock

2.12Chapter 12

2.12.1Cry of the Hunters

3Key Characters

3.1Profiles

3.1.1Ralph

3.1.2Piggy

3.1.3Jack

3.1.4Exam-Style Questions - Jack

3.1.5Simon

3.1.6Roger

3.1.7End of Topic Test - Ralph, Piggy & Jack

3.1.8End of Topic Test - Simon & Roger

3.1.9Grade 9 - Key Characters

4Key Concepts

4.1Themes

4.1.1Human Nature

4.1.2The Beast

4.1.3Savagery

4.1.4Location & Setting

4.1.5Democracy & Dictatorship

4.1.6Power & Control

4.1.7End of Topic Test - Themes

5Writing Techniques

5.1Writing Techniques

5.1.1Allegory

5.1.2Foreshadowing

5.1.3Pathetic Fallacy

5.1.4Naming

5.1.5End of Topic Test - Writing Techniques

6Recap: Main Quotes

6.1Characters Quotes

6.1.1Ralph - Quotations

6.1.2Piggy - Quotations

6.1.3Jack - Quotations

6.1.4Simon - Quotations

6.1.5Roger - Quotations

6.2Text Structure - Quotes

6.2.1The Sound of the Shell - Quotations

6.2.2Fire on the Mountain - Quotations

6.2.3Huts on the Beach - Quotations

6.2.4Painted Faces & Long Hair - Quotations

6.2.5Beast from the Water - Quotations

6.2.6Beast From the Air - Quotations

6.2.7Shadows & Tall Trees - Quotations

6.2.8Gift for the Darkness - Quotations

6.2.9Gift for the Darkness - Quotations 2

6.2.10A View to a Death - Quotations

6.2.11The Shell & the Glasses - Quotations

6.2.12Castle Rock - Quotations

6.2.13Cry of the Hunters - Quotations

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