William Golding’s Lord of the Flies contains none of the optimism that is so apparent throughout The Coral Island. Reflecting the pessimism that followed World War Two, of which the author was involved, Lord of the Flies mainly conveys the savagery that exists within every human being and its ability to override civilization. The novel also parallels World War Two in many other ways, as Jack’s rise to power effectively mirrors Hitler’s. It further makes use of religion in showing the pessimistic views on human nature of the time. These ideas are mainly conveyed through the allegorical style of the novel, characterization and metaphors.
William Golding along with the rest of the world was scarred by the acts committed in World War Two. The war exposed people’s capacity to harm one another through the Nazi Concentration Camps; by the way the Japanese mistreated their prisoners and the British and American mass bombing on civilians. These barbaric acts effectively conveyed that savagery was a stronger instinct than civilization. The Lord of the Flies shows this gradual change to savagery that Golding perceived in the war as the signal fire through the symbolic style of the writing. The signal fire, which the boys use to attract the attention of passing ships, effectively acts as a metaphoric ‘barometer’ for measuring the strength of the civilization-instinct against the instinct for savagery. When the fire first goes out, Ralph states “We’ve got to make smoke up there – or die.”, indicating the still overarching desire for civilization and order. However as the novel goes on, and the savage-instinct continues to take over, the signal fire is gradually forgotten and this is a symbol for the boys lost desires of wishing to return to society. Interestingly, when the boys are rescued the officer remarks “We saw your smoke”, however this smoke was not from the controlled signal fire, but rather the chaotic and savage fire, that Jack created in order to kill Ralph. This is again symbolizing Golding’s belief that civilization is strongly drawn to savagery.
Jack’s rise to power, quite strongly resembles Hitler’s rise to power. Jack plays on the group’s fears of the beast in order to take control. At first Jack states “there are no beasts to be afraid of on this island”, but as Jack realizes the power that emanates from the fear of the beast, he admits its existence claiming “my hunters can protect you from the beast”. Here we see Jack using people’s fears of the beast to bring him to power by offering protection from the beast, much like Hitler played on the German’s fears of communist revolution.
Golding also employs strong allusions to religion, through the characterization of Simon, to highlight the pessimistic views of human nature that existed post World-War Two. Simon, in some ways, very heavily alludes to Jesus. Simon seems to have a somewhat mystic connection with the environment, is extremely selflessness, being the only character to help the “littluns” as he “found for them the fruit they could not reach, pulled off the choicest from up the foliage, passed them down to the endless outstretched hands.” Furthermore, perhaps the biggest similarity is that Jesus and Simon both die sacrificially after discovering truths of human morality, Simon in his confrontation with the Lord of the Flies “Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill! . . . You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you? Close, close, close! I’m the reason why it’s no go? Why things are the way they are?”, learns of the savagery that exists within humans. However, while Jesus dies having delivered his message to the people, Simon is murdered before being able to tell his. “The sticks fell and the mouth of the new circle crunched and screamed. The beast was on its knees in the center, its arms folded over its face. It was crying out against the abominable noise, something about a body on the hill.” Simon’s inability to deliver his ‘Christ-like’ message on human nature shows the view that humanity has ignored the teachings of religion and Christianity, embracing instead violence and savagery thus the novel is reflecting the pessimism of the post war era.
Lord of the Flies is very strongly influenced by the context of its time. Following World War Two, it shows a deep pessimism for human nature, as the world bore witness of the atrocious acts humanity was capable of. It explains that the instinct for savagery, is much stronger than the instinct for civilization, that Golding felt he witnessed proof of in the war. Throughout the book aims to explain the horrors that humanity is capable of, through religious allegories and through characterization of Jack, and thus it is very clear that the book is shaped by its time.
William Golding along with the rest of the world was scarred by the acts committed in World War Two. The war exposed people’s capacity to harm one another through the Nazi Concentration Camps; by the way the Japanese mistreated their prisoners and the British and American mass bombing on civilians. These barbaric acts effectively conveyed that savagery was a stronger instinct than civilization. The Lord of the Flies shows this gradual change to savagery that Golding perceived in the war as the signal fire through the symbolic style of the writing. The signal fire, which the boys use to attract the attention of passing ships, effectively acts as a metaphoric ‘barometer’ for measuring the strength of the civilization-instinct against the instinct for savagery. When the fire first goes out, Ralph states “We’ve got to make smoke up there – or die.”, indicating the still overarching desire for civilization and order. However as the novel goes on, and the savage-instinct continues to take over, the signal fire is gradually forgotten and this is a symbol for the boys lost desires of wishing to return to society. Interestingly, when the boys are rescued the officer remarks “We saw your smoke”, however this smoke was not from the controlled signal fire, but rather the chaotic and savage fire, that Jack created in order to kill Ralph. This is again symbolizing Golding’s belief that civilization is strongly drawn to savagery.
Jack’s rise to power, quite strongly resembles Hitler’s rise to power. Jack plays on the group’s fears of the beast in order to take control. At first Jack states “there are no beasts to be afraid of on this island”, but as Jack realizes the power that emanates from the fear of the beast, he admits its existence claiming “my hunters can protect you from the beast”. Here we see Jack using people’s fears of the beast to bring him to power by offering protection from the beast, much like Hitler played on the German’s fears of communist revolution.
Golding also employs strong allusions to religion, through the characterization of Simon, to highlight the pessimistic views of human nature that existed post World-War Two. Simon, in some ways, very heavily alludes to Jesus. Simon seems to have a somewhat mystic connection with the environment, is extremely selflessness, being the only character to help the “littluns” as he “found for them the fruit they could not reach, pulled off the choicest from up the foliage, passed them down to the endless outstretched hands.” Furthermore, perhaps the biggest similarity is that Jesus and Simon both die sacrificially after discovering truths of human morality, Simon in his confrontation with the Lord of the Flies “Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill! . . . You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you? Close, close, close! I’m the reason why it’s no go? Why things are the way they are?”, learns of the savagery that exists within humans. However, while Jesus dies having delivered his message to the people, Simon is murdered before being able to tell his. “The sticks fell and the mouth of the new circle crunched and screamed. The beast was on its knees in the center, its arms folded over its face. It was crying out against the abominable noise, something about a body on the hill.” Simon’s inability to deliver his ‘Christ-like’ message on human nature shows the view that humanity has ignored the teachings of religion and Christianity, embracing instead violence and savagery thus the novel is reflecting the pessimism of the post war era.
Lord of the Flies is very strongly influenced by the context of its time. Following World War Two, it shows a deep pessimism for human nature, as the world bore witness of the atrocious acts humanity was capable of. It explains that the instinct for savagery, is much stronger than the instinct for civilization, that Golding felt he witnessed proof of in the war. Throughout the book aims to explain the horrors that humanity is capable of, through religious allegories and through characterization of Jack, and thus it is very clear that the book is shaped by its time.
