Lord Of The Flies Eulogy

Throughout the novel, Lord of the Flies, William Golding uses changes in the personality of characters to exemplify the negative effects of savagery and the idea that too much power will result in corruption. Jack’s mental and physical changes throughout the novel represent his and his follower’s descent into evil and savagery. Jack’s transition into his primal and uncivilized state can be directly linked to his growing desire for power. The postmodernist idea that too much power and strength leads to eventual destruction is shown when the rise of leadership wrongfully directs Jack and his crew down a path of savagery and despair. Throughout the novel, Golding emphasizes how the desire to rise in power and leadership can manipulate the innocent
He becomes no longer satisfied with being in charge of only the choir. He craves the authority of being leader of the entire group of boys and even the island as a whole. Jack utilizes his power and dictatorial demeanor to deliberately break the rules. When Ralph attempts to use the authority of the conch over Jack, Jack declares that “the conch doesn't count at this end of the island--" (Golding 150). The conch represents order and civilization, by implying that the rules of the conch do not apply to him, Jack’s idea of civilization is being completely erased. Throughout the novel, Jack represents the evil and violence in society. When he gains the total support of his fellow peers and eventually society as a whole, it represents civilization succumbing to the violence and corruption as well. Golding is portraying the idea that corruption can not be controlled and will inevitably overtake one who is weak and lacks guidance, like a little boy who is trapped on an island without parental supervision. Jack’s ongoing rise in power also results in his obsession with hunting. In the novel, Lord of the Flies, an obsession with hunting and becoming primal has the ability to change one’s personality, and shows how humans are intrinsically evil and
Jack’s desire for power and authority grows with everyday he is on the island. Jack’s savagery is always present, but exposes itself more as he becomes increasingly obsessed with hunting and killing, which results in his more primal demeanor. He then further shifts towards corruption when he turns his violence and brutality towards other human beings. Jack’s rapid, alarming changes serves to emphasize how humans can alter without the influence and comforts of civilization and society. This postmodernism idea also reflects how under these circumstances, humans will also fall to their evil origins and revert back to their primal and savage