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

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

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

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

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.

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

Jump to other topics