Courage, Loyalty and the Human Spirit in Lord of the Flies
Courage, Loyalty and the Human Spirit
“Lord of the Flies” is a thought-provoking novel, written by Nobel Prize winning author William Golding; about a group of British schoolboys who get stuck on an isolated island, and try to fend for and manage themselves; with catastrophic results. As the tale progresses, it becomes very clear that courage, loyalty and the human spirit are much more significant than human brutality as themes in the novel. In the face of human brutality, many characters show courage; acting appropriately and for the good of the group. Loyalty is a very important theme in the novel, simply because, without it, the majority of the characters would not have survived or worked together in the face of brutality and treachery. The theme of the human spirit is portrayed countless times, as the boys fight to overcome human brutality and be rescued.
The courage shown by some characters as the novel progresses is very significant as it shows how the boys are absolutely determined to be rescued, overcoming all of the hardships that face them including the brutality that some of the others show. In the novel, Piggy is always considered an “outcast”; not fitting in with the “littleuns”, yet not fitting in with the “biguns” either. He is subject to ill-treatment because of his physical weaknesses by the others, especially by Jack. Nevertheless he stands up to them and criticizes Jack, a feat which no-one else, other than Ralph would do; for his way of dealing matters, and the lack of cooperation that the hunters have shown, even though he himself is seen as a fool by most of the others.
“Which is better - to be a pack of painted niggers like you are, or to be sensible like Ralph is?” “Which is better—to have rules and agree, or to hunt and kill?” Which is better, law and rescue, or hunting and breaking things up?” (Piggy; p222)
This quote represents how Piggy has the nerve to condemn how the hunters and Jack are acting, even though he is being jeered
“Lord of the Flies” is a thought-provoking novel, written by Nobel Prize winning author William Golding; about a group of British schoolboys who get stuck on an isolated island, and try to fend for and manage themselves; with catastrophic results. As the tale progresses, it becomes very clear that courage, loyalty and the human spirit are much more significant than human brutality as themes in the novel. In the face of human brutality, many characters show courage; acting appropriately and for the good of the group. Loyalty is a very important theme in the novel, simply because, without it, the majority of the characters would not have survived or worked together in the face of brutality and treachery. The theme of the human spirit is portrayed countless times, as the boys fight to overcome human brutality and be rescued.
The courage shown by some characters as the novel progresses is very significant as it shows how the boys are absolutely determined to be rescued, overcoming all of the hardships that face them including the brutality that some of the others show. In the novel, Piggy is always considered an “outcast”; not fitting in with the “littleuns”, yet not fitting in with the “biguns” either. He is subject to ill-treatment because of his physical weaknesses by the others, especially by Jack. Nevertheless he stands up to them and criticizes Jack, a feat which no-one else, other than Ralph would do; for his way of dealing matters, and the lack of cooperation that the hunters have shown, even though he himself is seen as a fool by most of the others.
“Which is better - to be a pack of painted niggers like you are, or to be sensible like Ralph is?” “Which is better—to have rules and agree, or to hunt and kill?” Which is better, law and rescue, or hunting and breaking things up?” (Piggy; p222)
This quote represents how Piggy has the nerve to condemn how the hunters and Jack are acting, even though he is being jeered