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Survival In Lord Of The Flies

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In the novel Lord of the Flies, William Golding illustrates that there is an inner beast living in all people, and is merely masked by the confines of society. Young British boys go through a life-altering experience, in which they must adapt lifestyles for a chance of surviving. Throughout the novel, it is evident that evil is within all humans, although most hide that characteristic. The author, William Golding, utilizes the story as an example of how people will eventually revert to their savage instincts as the breakdown of society occurs and rules disappear. Once civilization disappears, which occurs since the boys are stranded in an island, it becomes a free-for-all type of mentality. Also, the author uses fire and flies as a symbol of evil, savagery, and pandemonium. Finally, once all evidence of a civilized culture is erased from their hearts and minds, the boys resort to murder; which is thought to be the ultimate sin. Golding develops his theme that savagery and survival is an innate sixth sense, which is present within everyone, and is demonstrated by the actions of the …show more content…
Anything that obstructed these genetic needs or caused controversy would have to been dealt with in the easiest way, death. In modern day society, the “man-brained and man-handed ground-ape” (Jeffers 1), is disguised by the thick shellac of society. Jack in particular, demonstrates the fast deteriorations of societies morals, when faced with the option of savagery. Jack originally arrived at the island boasting the position of the lead quire boy who could hit the highest note. He restrained himself from killing the pig in chapter three, because that would mean he was turning a blind-eye to society and the ethics from which he was raised on. Along with Jack, the population of the island quickly stopped trying to create a pseudo-civilization and transformed into people only driven by biological

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