Lord of the Flies Themes

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  • Created by: bjt1882
  • Created on: 25-09-16 17:57
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  • Lord of the Flies Themes
    • Human Nature
      • By leaving the boys alone on the island, he allows the novel to explore what would happen if the restraints of civilization were removed.
        • His basic idea was that when these restraints were removed, people generally move towards savagery, rather than society and civilization
      • His basic idea was that when these restraints were removed, people generally move towards savagery, rather than society and civilization
      • The civilization that Ralph attempted to set up ends up being outweighed by savagery
      • Golding thinks that humans are savage by nature. The beast described in the novel is actually the inner beast inside of them all.
        • This ties into the point that we are all supposedly born with sin, as in the Christian religion, we are said to have all derived from Adam and Eve. As Adam disobeyed God's order and ate the fruit from the tree, he is said to have sinned, which passed on through generations to us.
    • Civilization
      • Despite Golding's key idea being that we're all savage at heart, he still thinks that some people think that civilization should trump pure savagery.
      • This is proved by the fact that if we all were savage, then civilization wouldn't occur in the macrocosm that we live in.
      • This can be showed in the way that although we all live in civilization, the inner beast of savagery is still inside all of us, it has not been destroyed, merely hidden
      • The adults outside of the microcosm are said to be supposedly civilized, yet they are the ones fighting, and dropping atomic bombs
      • Although some boy's, such as Piggy and Ralph are said to be civilized, they still portray elements of savagery in the things that they do.
        • For example, Piggy as shown as savage, due to his love of food, the way the boy's laugh when Jack mocks Piggy, and their irrational fear of the beast.
    • The Beast and Savagery
      • Used to represent the savagery inside us. Civilization is used to suppress the beast.
      • The beast in the novel is seen as a physical object, so that they can thrive of it.
      • One of the most common themes in the novel.
      • Jack and the rest of the savages worship it in order to ensure their protection.
      • Simon is the only one who realises that it's them, not another being. This shows that he is the least savage out of the boys.
      • Savages give up and surrender to their darkest impulses, when civilization isn't there to stop them.
    • The Weak and the Strong
      • Boys fight in order to belong in the group and be respected by the other boys
      • This is done by attempting to look strong and powerful. Piggy is weak, so he is not respected by the other boys.
        • Boys fight in order to belong in the group and be respected by the other boys
      • In an attempt to do this, the boys give in to their savage instincts and pick on and mock the weakest boys in order to look strong.
      • Somebody that feels vulnerable will pick on a weaker boy, to feel less vulnerable.

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