Lord of the Flies William Golding. setting an unspecified time in the future during an apocalyptic atomic war an unspecified time in the future during

Lord of the FliesLord of the FliesWilliam GoldingWilliam Golding

settingsetting

an unspecified time in the future during an an unspecified time in the future during an apocalyptic atomic warapocalyptic atomic war

RalphRalph

Twelve years oldTwelve years old

Tall, athletic, fair-hairedTall, athletic, fair-haired

Charismatic and attractiveCharismatic and attractive

Clearly the leaderClearly the leader

A natural leader but unfortunately not a thinkerA natural leader but unfortunately not a thinker

PiggyPiggy Very intelligent, physically less than perfect fat Very intelligent, physically less than perfect fat

boy, a reader and thinker rather than a boy of boy, a reader and thinker rather than a boy of actionaction

JackJack

Leader of the choirLeader of the choir

Jack’Jack’s leadership qualities are immediately obviouss leadership qualities are immediately obvious

Rivals Ralph’Rivals Ralph’s leadership qualitiess leadership qualities

His contempt of Piggy, his treatment of the choir, and His contempt of Piggy, his treatment of the choir, and his temper, strongly indicate his tendency toward his temper, strongly indicate his tendency toward savagerysavagery

SimonSimon

Pallid, prone to epileptic seizuresPallid, prone to epileptic seizures

A member of Jack’A member of Jack’s choirs choir

Poetic, sensitive, loner, mysterious boyPoetic, sensitive, loner, mysterious boy

RogerRogerStrange, secretiveMember of Jack’s choir

Sam and Eric (Samneric)Sam and Eric (Samneric)Identical twinsDo everything together

The “littluns”The “littluns”The numerous little children in the group

The conchThe conch The conch serves as a symbol for beauty and The conch serves as a symbol for beauty and

gracegrace

As its role in the boysAs its role in the boys’’ meeting grows, it will also meeting grows, it will also come to symbolize the power around which the come to symbolize the power around which the novel’s central conflict revolvesnovel’s central conflict revolves

clip 1 (7:40-end)

Chapter 1 summary + analysisChapter 1 summary + analysis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xJZIprHqiY&context=C42b9ab6ADvjVQa1PpcFMUIdffmvZMZaLLH9nMsiaoXYsCEWdT1nw=

Theme – evil in human natureTheme – evil in human nature

Golding asserts Golding asserts that the book is an attempt to that the book is an attempt to ““trace the defects of society back to the defects of trace the defects of society back to the defects of human naturehuman nature””

Golding maintains that all that is wrong with Golding maintains that all that is wrong with humanity lies not in society, but within the beings humanity lies not in society, but within the beings that create societythat create society


This chapter briefly highlights the beginnings of This chapter briefly highlights the beginnings of the breakdown in the boysthe breakdown in the boys’’ belief in organization belief in organization


The boys have determined a system for organized The boys have determined a system for organized speaking; whoever holds the conch shall speakspeaking; whoever holds the conch shall speak

Chapter 2 summary + Chapter 2 summary + analysisanalysis

Once the firewood is gathered, the boysOnce the firewood is gathered, the boys’’ fragile fragile system of order breaks down quicklysystem of order breaks down quickly

Piggy’Piggy’s glasses are taken, the fire becomes s glasses are taken, the fire becomes uncontrollable, and the power of the conch uncontrollable, and the power of the conch becomes increasingly ignoredbecomes increasingly ignored

Fire as a symbolFire as a symbol

The fire that they so hastily built closely mirrors The fire that they so hastily built closely mirrors their uncontrolled passions, and it quickly their uncontrolled passions, and it quickly becomes destructivebecomes destructive

Symbolic of their natures, the fire = powerSymbolic of their natures, the fire = power

Unleashed, uncontrolled, its destructive potential Unleashed, uncontrolled, its destructive potential is deadly and indifferent, consuming all who get is deadly and indifferent, consuming all who get too closetoo close


This time, the fire is being used as a signal for This time, the fire is being used as a signal for their potential rescue; it is being used responsibly their potential rescue; it is being used responsibly and is, therefore, a symbol of responsibilityand is, therefore, a symbol of responsibility

JackJack’’s power over the others is slipping because s power over the others is slipping because he cannot quite control themhe cannot quite control them


As the boys become more savage, they move As the boys become more savage, they move away from responsibility and closer to chaos and away from responsibility and closer to chaos and the ruling power of fear and intimidationthe ruling power of fear and intimidation


By the end of chapter 3, Jack and Ralph seem to By the end of chapter 3, Jack and Ralph seem to be moving in different directionsbe moving in different directions

Ralph struggles to retain what is civilized, as Jack Ralph struggles to retain what is civilized, as Jack slips further into savageryslips further into savagery


Chapter 4 establishes Roger’Chapter 4 establishes Roger’s personality and s personality and reinforces the themes of organization, perception, reinforces the themes of organization, perception, and identityand identity

As the boysAs the boys’’ organizational system breaks down, organizational system breaks down, the possibility of catastrophic consequences the possibility of catastrophic consequences again emergesagain emerges


Piggy’Piggy’s outlook is severely impaired when his s outlook is severely impaired when his glasses are broken, and he slips closer to glasses are broken, and he slips closer to blindness as Jack edges toward savagery and the blindness as Jack edges toward savagery and the complete loss of his identitycomplete loss of his identity

Ralph’Ralph’s leadership, though nobly intended, is s leadership, though nobly intended, is again ineffectualagain ineffectual

Clip 2 (7:00-end)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IllWtTtoViI&feature=relmfu

Ch. 5 summary + analysisCh. 5 summary + analysis

The beast becomes real to the boys, if undefinedThe beast becomes real to the boys, if undefined

Jack, the hunter, tries to put it in physical terms, a Jack, the hunter, tries to put it in physical terms, a being that can be hunted and killedbeing that can be hunted and killed

Ralph, the leader, both tries to acknowledge its Ralph, the leader, both tries to acknowledge its presence, yet downplay its physicality for the sake presence, yet downplay its physicality for the sake of order and safetyof order and safety

Piggy, the thinker, tries to scientifically prove it is Piggy, the thinker, tries to scientifically prove it is not real, only his theories are wrecked by the not real, only his theories are wrecked by the diminishing power of the conchdiminishing power of the conch

Only Simon appears to recognize the true Only Simon appears to recognize the true nature of the beast; to him, the real source of nature of the beast; to him, the real source of fear and terror on the island is the people fear and terror on the island is the people themselves – the boys. It is within them that themselves – the boys. It is within them that the beast existsthe beast exists

It is their own fear and lack of spiritual power It is their own fear and lack of spiritual power that will cause the destruction and horror on that will cause the destruction and horror on the islandthe island

It is Simon who recognizes Golding’It is Simon who recognizes Golding’s thesis, s thesis, that mankind’s evil nature is inherent in manthat mankind’s evil nature is inherent in man



The corpse that falls from the sky becomes the The corpse that falls from the sky becomes the physical representation of the beastphysical representation of the beast

Ironically, his death is caused by violence, Ironically, his death is caused by violence, therefore he is truly a metaphor for what the boys therefore he is truly a metaphor for what the boys fearfear

Jack denounces the power of the conchJack denounces the power of the conch

As he slips further and further into savagery, he As he slips further and further into savagery, he no longer needs rules or symbols to followno longer needs rules or symbols to follow


The contrasts between Jack and Ralph are The contrasts between Jack and Ralph are deepening at this pointdeepening at this point

Ralph is growing increasingly grownup and urges Ralph is growing increasingly grownup and urges responsibilityresponsibility

Jack is growing increasingly more popular as he Jack is growing increasingly more popular as he goads the kids to follow his childish actions; his goads the kids to follow his childish actions; his insistence at disrupting the meetings is insistence at disrupting the meetings is personally motivated by his jealousy of Ralph and personally motivated by his jealousy of Ralph and his dislike for Piggyhis dislike for Piggy


Jack is introducing anarchy to the boysJack is introducing anarchy to the boys

He knows the motivating and intimidating He knows the motivating and intimidating power of fear, and he uses it to his advantagepower of fear, and he uses it to his advantage

The boys have already shown that they are The boys have already shown that they are easily led by fear, and Jack’easily led by fear, and Jack’s ability to s ability to manipulate them through this will cause the manipulate them through this will cause the actual emergence of the true beast they actual emergence of the true beast they should fear: their own evil naturesshould fear: their own evil natures



One progression highlighted in this chapter is One progression highlighted in this chapter is the boysthe boys’’ increasing loss of identity increasing loss of identity

The longer they remain on the island, the The longer they remain on the island, the farther away from their civilized selves they farther away from their civilized selves they move (shown by their lengthening hair and move (shown by their lengthening hair and deteriorating clothes)deteriorating clothes)

Among the hunters, only Ralph is shown Among the hunters, only Ralph is shown having any desire to returnhaving any desire to return

The pivotal scene in the chapter occurs when The pivotal scene in the chapter occurs when the boys pretend to kill the pig and hurt the boys pretend to kill the pig and hurt Robert in their enthusiasmRobert in their enthusiasm

The scene reveals the depths of Jack’The scene reveals the depths of Jack’s s growing cruelty when he suggests using a growing cruelty when he suggests using a littlun next timelittlun next time

He is always willing to prey on weaker beingsHe is always willing to prey on weaker beings


Ralph does not realize how easily he is Ralph does not realize how easily he is seduced by blood lustseduced by blood lust

That he slips so easily into this more Jack-like That he slips so easily into this more Jack-like role reveals more about Golding’role reveals more about Golding’s perception s perception of the defective character of man of the defective character of man

If even so good a character as Ralph can be If even so good a character as Ralph can be quickly seduced into the desire to hurt and quickly seduced into the desire to hurt and kill, then it is no surprise that the lesser kill, then it is no surprise that the lesser characters follow his path as wellcharacters follow his path as well


The implication is that this is a flaw within all The implication is that this is a flaw within all mankindmankind

Ralph’Ralph’s inability to reconcile these two conflicting s inability to reconcile these two conflicting aspects of his character are the root of his flaws, aspects of his character are the root of his flaws, as much as Jack’s inability to temper his tendency as much as Jack’s inability to temper his tendency toward savagery is the root of histoward savagery is the root of his


Clip 3 (beginning to 9:25)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=le1G_Dkkosg&feature=relmfu

The beast has finally made its appearance, and it The beast has finally made its appearance, and it is represented by the pig’is represented by the pig’s heads head

It is the Lord of the Flies, or anarchyIt is the Lord of the Flies, or anarchy


Several personalities continue to evolveSeveral personalities continue to evolve

Jack represents anarchy; he has finally broken Jack represents anarchy; he has finally broken from the circle of the conch and declared himself from the circle of the conch and declared himself the Chiefthe Chief

Piggy’Piggy’s ability to see with only one eye is s ability to see with only one eye is indicative of his perception of things; he can still indicative of his perception of things; he can still see the need for order and civilization, but see the need for order and civilization, but blinded by the intrusion of violence and anarchy blinded by the intrusion of violence and anarchy (as represented by Jack hitting him and breaking (as represented by Jack hitting him and breaking his glasses), he is more interested in self-his glasses), he is more interested in self-preservation than in the spiritual and moral need preservation than in the spiritual and moral need for orderfor order


Simon is the only one who begins to understand Simon is the only one who begins to understand the nature of the beastthe nature of the beast

In the end of the chapter he falls into the mouth In the end of the chapter he falls into the mouth of the beast as he slips into his seizure, just as of the beast as he slips into his seizure, just as the violence that will later consume him and the the violence that will later consume him and the others emerges from within themselves and others emerges from within themselves and devours themdevours them


Ralph continues to cling to responsibility, and Ralph continues to cling to responsibility, and the hope that understanding will come, never the hope that understanding will come, never realizing that it is his own inability to see that realizing that it is his own inability to see that this is the root of his problemsthis is the root of his problems

Previously a strange loner, Roger’Previously a strange loner, Roger’s s personality has emerged as truly sadisticpersonality has emerged as truly sadistic



True anarchy has arrived on the islandTrue anarchy has arrived on the island

Jack has effectively split the group into two – the Jack has effectively split the group into two – the fire makers and the fire takersfire makers and the fire takers

The fire makers exist on fruit and responsibilityThe fire makers exist on fruit and responsibility

The fire takers hunt meat and have fun; Jack is The fire takers hunt meat and have fun; Jack is their leadertheir leader


Piggy and Ralph experience slight losses of their Piggy and Ralph experience slight losses of their identitiesidentities

Spiritually, only Simon truly understands the beast, but Spiritually, only Simon truly understands the beast, but to do so he must look it directly in the face and confront to do so he must look it directly in the face and confront itit

Only by opening himself up to truth and beauty, can he Only by opening himself up to truth and beauty, can he achieve the vision needed to see into the core of achieve the vision needed to see into the core of humanity and spot the beasthumanity and spot the beast

The discovery of the true nature of the beast is that, at The discovery of the true nature of the beast is that, at its center, is manits center, is man

In order for there to be chaos and decay, there must In order for there to be chaos and decay, there must first be beautyfirst be beauty


In Simon’In Simon’s retreat, the corpse of the pig has s retreat, the corpse of the pig has drawn flies that devour it and replace the drawn flies that devour it and replace the butterflies that swarmed therebutterflies that swarmed there

Likewise, the corpse of the man, natureLikewise, the corpse of the man, nature’’s s beautiful creation, is, like the pig’s head, beautiful creation, is, like the pig’s head, rotting and covered with fliesrotting and covered with flies

The focus of these flies, who worship at the The focus of these flies, who worship at the temple of their lord, is death by violence, the temple of their lord, is death by violence, the ultimate destruction of beautyultimate destruction of beauty


On a symbolic level, it is the forces of nature that On a symbolic level, it is the forces of nature that bring the beast to the boys spiritually and bring the beast to the boys spiritually and symbolicallysymbolically

Simon had to travel to the mountain to view the Simon had to travel to the mountain to view the beast and understand it beast and understand it

Since he was inherently peaceful, his spiritual Since he was inherently peaceful, his spiritual attempts to understand his own violent nature attempts to understand his own violent nature forced him to seek out the face of the beast to forced him to seek out the face of the beast to confront itconfront it


On the other hand, the boys, who are inherently On the other hand, the boys, who are inherently violent, succumb to their natures and kill Simon, violent, succumb to their natures and kill Simon, and the beast has truly arrivedand the beast has truly arrived


Clip 4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJE6lsOi4W8&feature=related

Ch. 10 summary + Ch. 10 summary + analysisanalysis

The stealing of Piggy’The stealing of Piggy’s glasses represents not s glasses represents not only the triumph of violence and chaos, but only the triumph of violence and chaos, but the destruction of civilization and visionthe destruction of civilization and vision

The conch has become meaninglessThe conch has become meaningless

With Simon dead there is no longer any With Simon dead there is no longer any chance of understanding the terrible nature chance of understanding the terrible nature of humanity on the islandof humanity on the island


The destruction of the conch and the death of The destruction of the conch and the death of blind Piggy are the climax of Golding’blind Piggy are the climax of Golding’s thesiss thesis

At this point, the boys have truly descended At this point, the boys have truly descended irreversibly into savagery due to the defects in irreversibly into savagery due to the defects in their personalitiestheir personalities

Jack has completely lost himself in his twisted Jack has completely lost himself in his twisted vision, and he rules in an authoritarian vision, and he rules in an authoritarian manner behind an anonymous maskmanner behind an anonymous mask

Ralph’Ralph’s inability to understand the reasoning s inability to understand the reasoning behind his desire for civilization and rules has behind his desire for civilization and rules has made his leadership truly ineffective, with made his leadership truly ineffective, with tragic resultstragic results


Clip 5 (4:34-end)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_A3pa5Em1c


Ralph’Ralph’s contemplation of the skull of the Lord of s contemplation of the skull of the Lord of the Flies is significant; he does not understand it, the Flies is significant; he does not understand it, as he has not understood the lack of cooperation as he has not understood the lack of cooperation on the island previouslyon the island previously

Like all violence, the end result of destruction is Like all violence, the end result of destruction is that it consumes itself like a disease in a dying that it consumes itself like a disease in a dying body; the flies have consumed the flesh of the body; the flies have consumed the flesh of the pig, and only the skull is leftpig, and only the skull is left


The bitter irony of the story’The bitter irony of the story’s end is that the s end is that the smoke the boys use to flush Ralph for the kill is smoke the boys use to flush Ralph for the kill is the signal for their rescuethe signal for their rescue

The officer represents newly discovered The officer represents newly discovered civilizationcivilization


Golding’Golding’s final irony lies in the naval officers final irony lies in the naval officer

He is appalled at the savagery of the children He is appalled at the savagery of the children and is amazed at how easily they reverted to and is amazed at how easily they reverted to warlike wayswarlike ways


The beautiful island that burns behind The beautiful island that burns behind them is a metaphor for society and the them is a metaphor for society and the world, a paradise destroyed by the world, a paradise destroyed by the primitive instincts of manprimitive instincts of man

The children of the island all possessed The children of the island all possessed flaws that led to their inevitable moral flaws that led to their inevitable moral destruction, as represented by the physical destruction, as represented by the physical destruction of the islanddestruction of the island


The fire that would have consumed them all, like The fire that would have consumed them all, like the fire of the all-consuming war, is the power of the fire of the all-consuming war, is the power of the beast releasedthe beast released

In each case, the characters contributed to the In each case, the characters contributed to the eventual destruction of their island, as the war eventual destruction of their island, as the war and the rest of mankind is destroying the worldand the rest of mankind is destroying the world


The End!The End!

Documents

Lord of the Flies William Golding. setting an unspecified time in the future during an apocalyptic atomic war an unspecified time in the future during