4.1.3
Savagery
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Savagery
Golding uses the novel to show that people are basically savage creatures.
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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
6Recap: Main Quotes
6.1Characters Quotes
6.2Text Structure - Quotes
6.2.1The Sound of the Shell - Quotations6.2.2Fire on the Mountain - Quotations6.2.3Huts on the Beach - Quotations6.2.4Painted Faces & Long Hair - Quotations6.2.5Beast from the Water - Quotations6.2.6Beast From the Air - Quotations6.2.7Shadows & Tall Trees - Quotations6.2.8Gift for the Darkness - Quotations6.2.9Gift for the Darkness - Quotations 26.2.10A View to a Death - Quotations6.2.11The Shell & the Glasses - Quotations6.2.12Castle Rock - Quotations6.2.13Cry of the Hunters - Quotations
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
6Recap: Main Quotes
6.1Characters Quotes
6.2Text Structure - Quotes
6.2.1The Sound of the Shell - Quotations6.2.2Fire on the Mountain - Quotations6.2.3Huts on the Beach - Quotations6.2.4Painted Faces & Long Hair - Quotations6.2.5Beast from the Water - Quotations6.2.6Beast From the Air - Quotations6.2.7Shadows & Tall Trees - Quotations6.2.8Gift for the Darkness - Quotations6.2.9Gift for the Darkness - Quotations 26.2.10A View to a Death - Quotations6.2.11The Shell & the Glasses - Quotations6.2.12Castle Rock - Quotations6.2.13Cry of the Hunters - Quotations
Practice questions on Savagery
Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.
- 1Golding's message in _Lord of the Flies_:True / false
- 2The boys' appearance at the beginning of _Lord of the Flies_:Fill in the list
- 3In _Lord of the Flies_ what represents inner human evil?Multiple choice
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