Myths in Golding’s novels “The Spire” and “Lord of the flies”
A famous English writer William Golding was born in Cornwall, England. Golding started writing at the age of seven, but following the wishes of his parents, he studied first natural sciences and then English at Brasenose College,Oxford. Golding’s first book, a collection of poems, apperad in 1934. After study at university Golding moved to Salisbury, where he began teaching English and philosophy. During World War II, Golding served in the Royal Navy(armada) in command of a rocket ship. In 1945 Golding returned to writing and teaching, with a dark view of the European civilization. In many novels Golding has showed the dark places of human heart. His work is caracterized by exploration of “the darkness of man’s heart”, deep spiritual and ethical questions. In Salisbury Golding wrote several books, but did not get them published. “ Lord of the Flies”, an allegorical story set in the near future during war time, was turned down by many publishers until it finally appeared in 1954. The famous English writer Forster named this book “ The Book of the years”. At the time of its appearance,Golding was forty four, but the success of the novel allowed him to give up teaching. In the exciting story a group of small British boys, standed on a desert island, fall into violence after they have lost all adult guidance. Ironically, the adult world is ruined by nuclear war.
The novel “ The Spire” concerned the construction of a cathedral spire. Jocelin, a medieval dean, has decided to erect a 400-foot spire to the top of the cathedral before his death. But its construction causes the sacrifice of others, betrayal and murder; the Dean’s own faith is tested.From this novel Golding’s work developed into three directions: novels dealing with contemporary society without mythical substructure, the metaphysical novels in which the them of fall from innocence into guilt was central, and sea novels imitating the XVIII c. style. Golding also used in his works the ideas familiar from science fiction, such as the origin of a man, nuclear holocaust, and highly advanced inventions. In the Spire the principal action of novel is the building up the Spire. The massive structure of the Spire and its building up to an unimaginable height reminds us of the myth of the tower, the top of which reach the heaven. Then Lord told them that all the people are one and they had one language. But this did not stop them from building the tower. Then the God destroy their language . So each could not understand the other and they left tower unfinished. The tower is called Babel. Golding made use of the myth of the tower of Babel to illustrate the physical massiveness of the Spire. The only difference is that the tower of Babel was left unfinished but the Spire was built.
Golding’s most widely read work, “ Lord of the Flies” has been translated into many languages and filmed. The story describes a group of children, who are evacuated from Britain because of a nuclear war.Their airplane crashes on an uninhabited island, and all the adults are killed. The boys create their own society. Elected the leader of the boys at the beginning of the novel,Ralph, one of main characters of the book, is the primary representative of order, civilization, and productive leadership in the novel. While most of the other boys are concerned with playing, having fun, and avoiding work, Ralph thinking of ways to maximize their chances of being rescued. But the group gradually succumbs to savage instincts, Ralph’s position declines while the other main character Jack’s rises. Eventually, most of the boys expect Piggy leave Ralph’s group for Jack’s and Ralph is left alone to be haunted by Jack’s tribe. Ralph’s commitment to civilization and morality is strong and his main wish is to be rescued and return to the society of adults. Golding’s view in this book is pessimistic: human nature is evil and sinful. Although the boys have taught social skills, their desire to kill began when there are no strict rules of English public school system to control their behavior. The central concern of Lord of the Flies is conflict between two competing instincts. This conflict might be expressed in a number of ways: civilization vs. savagery, order vs. chaos, law vs. anarchy, or the broader heading of good vs. evil. In this poem Golding used myth of the original sin and myth of the fall of man. The original sin is still present in all of us and our very existence is a result of Adam’s fall.