...Power and Abuse Leaders with high authority have a potent influence on society. Power can either nurture subordinate people or ravage their self-worth through rules and demands. Abuse occurs because malicious impulses are not repressed nor denounced. Dictators notoriously kill several civilians, yet because of their position, they avert castigation from civilians. In Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, a group of boys descend into savagery as Jack’s power ascends. “The Struggle for Iraq” by John Schwartz describes the process by which normal college students turn spiteful when they become prison guards. Lord of the Flies and “The Struggle for Iraq” illustrate how boundless authority often leads to sadistic behavior. Jack Merridew, a stubborn and fascist teenager in Lord of the Flies, represents man’s descent into savagery and brutality. After being elected as leader of the hunters, he tries to emulate Ralph’s position as chief. As he gradually gains power, the hunt -- along with violence -- turns into an unhealthy obsession. He convinces other boys to hunt because of the thrill; eventually, nearly every survivor chants, “Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Bash her in” (75). As more boys join the assembly, Jack’s thirst for barbarism becomes immense: “The forest near them burst into uproar. Demoniac figures with faces of white and red and green rushed out howling...star naked save for the paint and a belt was Jack” (140). As Jack exalts, he starts abusing the boys for no apparent...
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...In the novel, Lord of the Flies, there is an abundance of objects that are used to symbolize power as well as authority and savagery. The conch shell and the sow’s head portray these things indefinitely. In many ways the powers of the objects are different. Lord of the Flies is an allegory for power considering the amount of symbolism within the novel. The boys in this novel routinely used symbols to control the group of boys on the island. In all, there is a plethora of symbols used in this novel to display things like power, authority, and savagery. Symbols in this novel are used to control a group as well as serving as an allegory to the reader. Two of the main symbols are conch shell and the sow’s head. The conch represents power and authority. The sow’s head represents savagery and illustrates the novel Lord of the Flies, because the rotting head is swarming with flies as it sits upon a wooden stake. While both the conch and sow’s head had completely opposite meanings, both of them wield a certain type of power over the boys. The conch’s power over the boys is making them think that they have control over everyone once they have the conch in their possession. However, the sow’s head assists in the assembly of a new opposing tribe. This tribe was cruel to the other boys who solely wanted unity and peace...
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...Symbolism in the Lord of the Flies In everyday life, different objects, places, and people symbolize various meanings. In the major motion picture and best selling novel, The Hunger Games, written by Suzanne Collins, the main character, Katniss Everdeen wears a mockingjay pin as a representation of bravery and courage. The mockingjay is an example of a symbol, which according to Random House Webster’s college dictionary is “something used for or regarded as something else.” William Golding’s novel, Lord of the Flies, tells a story about a group of stranded boys on an island and the use of many symbolic items that affect their stay and character. Golding’s use and representation of the conch shell, Piggy’s glasses, and the Beast/Lord of Flies...
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...In Goldberg's novel, Lord of the Flies, Jack has been a character that has remained evil, dangerous and power hungry. The author demonstrates this by Jack's emotions, behavior, and physical characterization. In the beginning of the book, Jack's emotions shows how he thinks he deserves resect right away. In Lord of the Flies, it says, “‘Kids’ names,’ said Merridew. ‘Why should I be Jack? I'm Merridew’” (Goldberg 21). In this case, Jack believes that he deserves respect from the boys’ right away. Jack thinks that he was above everyone else. When you want to go by your last name, that means you want to receive more authority and respect from others. By going by his last name, Jack has more domenice, that leads to power and respect. Another reason...
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...One of the main themes in William Golding's Lord of the Flies is the struggle between Society and Savagery. The boys' first intention on the island is to create a society based on the one they had in the adult world: one with rules, limitations and order. But at the same time, they want to have fun. As time progresses, they start ignoring the rules that they had originally set. Instead of using the designated lavatory stones for bathroom purposes, they start using the bathroom wherever they want, even near their special meeting place. The shelters that they all intended on helping to build end up being built by only a few of the boys and therefore, are not as sturdy as they could have been. According to Henri Talon, "[The boys] planned order and allowed disorder to settle" (Talon). The longer they stayed on the island, the more they lost touch with the boundaries set by society, and they eventually started to resort to primitive behavior. Throughout the novel, each of the boys struggles to keep remnants of society in tact, while their primitive nature tries to reel them into savagery. Some of the boys give into their primitive behavior very quickly, while others strive to hold on to their civility as long as possible. This struggle is portrayed masterfully by Golding who uses symbolism to enhance the reader's understanding of it. The first prominent symbol of society that we see is the conch shell that Ralph finds near the shore at the beginning of the novel. Upon Piggy's suggestion...
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...Mar, Alexa Period 2 Mr.O The Lord Of The Flies Which is better, to have laws and agree, or to hunt and kill? A symbol is something that has great value. William Golding wrote the novel, “Lord of the Flies”. His purpose in using symbolism is to send certain messages to certain people. He wants to send a message to make people realize that you can change for the better or for the worst. I believe the most important symbol in LOTF is the conch. The conch is the most important because it represents leadership and unity. The conch represents leadership. With the help of the conch, Ralph became the tribe’s leader. “But there was a stillness about Ralph…yet most powerfully there was the conch.” (pg.22). This shows that Ralph became leader mostly because of the conch. The conch was powerful to them. Ralph became their leader. In the article, the author states, “Ralph: leadership: order: Civilization.” This shows that Ralph is capable of being a leader. In society, leadership is important because without leaders, there will be no one to lead us to a great change. The conch represents authority. The stranded boys are deciding for a chief. “He lifted the conch. ‘Seems to me we ought to have a chief to decide things.’” (pg.22) This shows the boys voting for a chief to have order. Anyone who has the conch may speak with no interruptions since it was tumult. On the article, the author states, “…Anyone holding the conch in...
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...As a result of the lack of punishments for breaking both pre-existing societal rules and those set out by Ralph, (some) boys in Lord of the Flies degenerate into a State of Nature. Amongst various reasons for why the boys degenerate into a state of nature, the lack of real punishments the boys face for breaking both pre-existing societal rules and those set out by Ralph is the main factor. Amongst the various reasons as to why the boys degenerate into a State of Nature, the lack of real punishments is the main factor. Amongst the various reaonA lack of real punishments is the main factor as to why boys in Lord of The Flies degenerate into a State of Nature I LOVE SAMANTHA BTW Thomas Hobbes wrote in Leviathan about the atrocities and horrors of mankind if a time came where there was no government and laws to keep us in check. This anarchical situation was termed the State of Nature....
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...take their authority a little too far. When told this, most individuals may disagree, claiming they would never let their power get to their head or that they would be a fair and cunning leader. Unfortunately, domination is just too much too handle and almost always takes people too far. This is clearly demonstrated in stories such as The Stanford Prison Experiment and William Golding’s Lord of the Flies. The Stanford Prison Experiment is a film about a group of scientists and psychologists who gather up young college boys and place them in a simulated prison, several boys acting as the guards and the rest acting as prisoners. Almost immediately after the experiment began, the guards turned extremely manipulative and violent because they think they can abuse their power and get away with it. It is not just the...
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...Comparing the dystopian features of 'Lord of the Flies' and 'The Handmaid's Tale' 'Lord of the flies' and 'The Handmaid's Tale' are two dystopian novels that I'm going to compare. These two novels have got various dystopian features. Dystopia refers to a work of fiction that describes an imagined place or state where everything is unpleasant or bad due to terror or deprivation. Lord of the Flies is a very gory dystopian novel. This novel includes various dystopian features. One of them is greed which has been reflected by the behaviours and attitudes of the characters. Greed has been shown by Jack's obsession over killing the pig as once the pig escaped, getting it back and killing it was his only goal. He proclaimed that he was hunting for the group but his desperation to kill the pig said otherwise. This act showed his greed for pride as his ego got hurt when the pig escaped. Another way greed has been shown is by Ralph's desire to constantly be in charge and have control. This has been shown when Ralph first went with the hunter group he saw that the boys had started lazing about so in order to get control over them, he yelled at them to get back to work and light the fire. At denial, his ego got hurt and so he screamed at them until they agreed to do do. This reflects Jack's greed for authority and control over others. One other way in which greed has been shown is through Jack's intense and selfish desire for power. Jack's greed for authority and power has been shown by his...
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...Lord of the Flies Comprehensive Test True/False- Mark “A” for True and “B” for False. 1. When Ralph is elected chief, Jack is so frustrated that he refuses to hunt. 2. Ralph starts the signal fire by rubbing two sticks together. 3. The signal fire goes out because Jack and the hunters neglect it. 4. A wild boar eats the littlun who has a mulberry-colored birthmark on his face. 5. Piggy’s parents will come find them. 6. The conch provides a symbol for authority that the boys recognize as civilized. 7. The main source of food on the island is food scavenged from the wreckage of the airplane. 8. The boys murder Simon because they think that he is “batty.” 9. Piggy is not afraid of Jack because he knows that SamnEric will protect him. 10. Ralph and Jack initially had a mutual respect for each other that diminished by the end of the book. Match the following descriptions with the choices given (A-E) a. Ralph b. Piggy c. Jack d. Simon e. Roger 11. dies when a rock falls on him 12. the elected leader of the group 13. the most evil character; kills Piggy 14. puts his own lust for hunting ahead of everyone else’s needs 15. sees people for what they really are 16. represents the power-hungry dictator in society 17. represents the mystic philosophers in society 18. represents the good-hearted rule-following leaders in society 19. represents the evil sadist figures in society 20. represents the scholars...
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...Symbolism in Lord of the Flies In William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies”, the boys who are stranded on the island encounter many elements that are actually symbols. These symbols are significant to the story and change over the course of the novel. It is important to understand what each of these symbols mean in order to fully understand the novel. The conch shell, Piggy’s glasses, and the island itself are three important symbols in “Lord of the Flies.” The first symbolic element in “Lord of the Flies” is the conch shell. This symbolizes the rule of law and civilization on the island. Ralph uses it as a microphone and calls assemblies with it. Whoever is holding it at the assembly has the right to speak. “Jack stands and reaches for the conch so he can talk. But Ralph refuses to hand it over and Jack sits back down” (Golding, pg 81). Jack’s actions show that even though he might not agree with Ralph, he still respects the rules of civilization. When the conch is broken, Jack exclaims that he can now be chief. That is because without the conch shell, civilization and power is gone....
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...LOTF In Lord of the Flies by William Golding, Jack and Ralph are very different. They have different views on how they think the group should be governed and disagree on what is more important. Ralph’s father was part of the army so he has experience with strong authority and having things in order. Jack, on the other hand, is very power-hungry and feels like he should lead everyone. Jack and Ralph are characterized differently in Lord of the Flies based on their ways of leadership, morals, and style of government. When the boys’ first get together, the first thing they do is choose a leader. On pages 22 and 23 of Lord of the Flies, the group votes for Ralph to be leader because he had the conch. To the littluns the conch held a certain power of authority so when they saw him holding it they automatically saw him as a leader-type. When Ralph blows the conch for the first time on page 17, he feels a sort of masculinity and power because of how strong and loud the conch was. Ralph didn’t forget to give Jack some authority. He told him...
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...The Lord of the Flies and “Milgram Experiment” The lost boys in The Lord of the Flies have many similarities with the test subjects of the “Milgram Experiment”. The boys will listen to whoever the strongest leader is and obey them no matter what, and the subjects in the “Milgram Experiment” do the same. Obedience is focused on power and respect and many people, fictional or real, will listen to the strongest ruler due to their influence over them.The Lord of the Flies and the Obedience to Authority Experiments have many similarities, especially the idea of obedience to leaders and why some people follow orders without thinking. The boys in the Lord of the Flies were only influenced by the power of their leader. Whether they thought Ralph...
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...Lord of the Flies: A Psychological Study of the Nature of Humans William Golding once said, “What a man does defiles him, not what is done by others.” The phrase is approached so easily with his novel, Lord of the Flies (September 17, 1954), to depict the darkness of the natural man. The twentieth-century British writer in his novel argues the savagery of true mankind through a prose involving a band of young British schoolboys who are stranded on an empty island after a plane crash. He generalizes the human race by first developing the boys as helpless as they try to create a form of democracy with Ralph being the leader (and protagonist), then by creating opposition to the governmental tradition through Jack and his followers who separate...
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...William Golding’s Lord of the Flies and Lauren Slater’s Opening Skinner’s Box both take a look at human perpetuation towards evil. Slater argues that humans may commit evil deeds when obeying authority, by observing Stanley Milgram’s experiment in her second chapter, “Obscura”. In chapters one through six of Lord of the Flies, Golding examines society through the perspective of young boys, and their finding of inner evil. I think both Slater and Golding would argue that it is easy to find evil, when one loses their self. I believe that the quintessential part of “Obscura” is when Lauren Slater examines Milgram’s obedience experiment’s effect on people. In other words, Slater contends that the experiment has “managed to stamp itself so solidly into these men’s undeniably real lives” (58). Those personal interviews and stories share...
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