Savagery In Lord Of The Flies, By William Golding

We may consider humans not born with savagery, however with one’s loss of presence in society we can truly see the evil residing in us. In Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, the decay of society over the course of the novel portrays that civilization is crucial to the survival of the human race because without it humans will shift back to their original primitive state.

Without authority figures to uphold law and order to follow, the boys become increasingly savage and incredibly animalistic. In chapter six, Jack and his hunters are eager to hunt down the beast after Sam and Eric claim to see it. Jack’s fervor for hunting wins out immediately as he is so excited at the prospect of killing the beast that he instantaneously abandons everything he is
Jack is slowly losing his ability of rational thought and instead of building shelters or tending the fire and overall being logical, he easily gives into his barbarous urges. Later on in chapter seven, Ralph and the others use Robert as the pig in their hunting game and get so caught up in the game that they almost kill Robert. Without order, the boys are now incapable of keeping it and easily get whisked away in the frenzy of bloodlust where they unintentionally may harm another group member. During the dancing and chanting of Jack’s tribe in chapter nine, the boys are so engrossed with their own dance that they mistake the shadowy figure of Simon for the beast. They proceed to attack Simon with their sticks and hurt him so violently, that they kill him. Possibly one of the most brutal acts of savagery in the novel, there were no repercussions for Simon’s death