Lord of the Flies

Argument 1: Civilization vs. Savagery

Every human has a central instinct lying within them. It is not a question of how close to the actual surface it appears, but rather how well an individual controls and deals with it. In a state of increasing distress and panic, what is one truly capable of? Can one remain sophisticated or will the temptation of their dark inner most thoughts take over, bringing out the savage which exists in us all? William Golding’s Lord of the Flies explores this inquiry through an allegory represented by a group of boys who have been marooned on a deserted island, with no surviving adults. Lord of the Flies has been interpreted and analyzed in several different manners. It has been derived that the allegory of Civilization vs. Savagery is among the strongest interpretations based on considerable supporting evidence.
William Golding's Lord of the Flies allegorically shows the good and evil that co-exists in every human being.  Each character and symbol displays this possible by what it represents. Ralph and Jack allegorically represent opposing political forces: Jack as the dictator and Ralph as the prototype of a democratic leader. “The disappearance of authority figures and the prospect of fun, however, also bring with them fear, for the boys are scared of the possibility of long-term abandonment on the island, a fear that is to be reinforced later by the "monster."(Golding, note 1, p. 33) The island represents the archetypal garden and the conch shell which represents power.  Golding uses British schoolboys to prove that a little bit of evil exists in all of us.  Each of these symbols help in proving that we all have some evil in our hearts. “Everything is taken from the ship. Nothing is invented. It is all
  painstakingly applied on the island. Time is nothing but the time
  necessary for capital to produce a benefit as the outcome of work. And
  the providential function of God is to guarantee a return. God knows
  his... [continues]

Read full essay