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Duality In Lord Of The Flies

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Duality In Lord Of The Flies
The duality of the human soul in the guise of good and evil is the main preoccupation in the adventure novel 'Lord of the Flies'. Throughout the novel, the conflict is dramatized by the contradicting views between Ralph and Jack, who represent civilisation and savagery. The differing views are expressed by each boy's strong attitudes towards authority. Ralph uses leadership to establish rules and to enforce the British moral codes that the boys were raised up to use. However, Jack demands the complete obedience of the other boys. His lust for power drives him into savagery and installs fear into the other boys who are too scared to reason against him.

Despite being the main conflict between good and evil, Jack and Ralph are not completely one or the other. Roger represents complete evil. He is the one who carries out, to an extreme, Jack's aggressive use of force. Roger represents the worst that develops in people when there is no civilization to keep them in line and symbolizes man's natural …show more content…
He is described as 'not a leader' however he is the intelligence behind Ralph and makes him see the importance of building shelters. His death is symbolic as it is also the death of all intelligence and adult order breaking down.

The conflict between good and Evil is even present in the title of the novel. 'Lord' and 'Flies' are completely opposite words as a Lord suggests a chief, ruler, king and power whereas flies suggests dirty, death and evil. 'Lord of the Flies' is literally a biblical translation of Beelzebub, the devil or Satan. It is a pitiful creature, a rotting pigs head and has no power except in the minds of the children. It becomes a Christ-like figure as 'the Chief' orders the tribe to “give it a head if you go hunting” almost like a sacrifice.

There are many symbols that represent the conflict between good and evil in the 'Lord of the
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