Savagery
English Lit: AQA GCSE Lord of the Flies, topic 4.1.3
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.
Test yourself on Savagery
In Lord of the Flies what represents inner human evil?