To What Extent Is “Lord of the Flies” About

In “Lord of the Flies,” Golding explores the theme of civilisation in juxtaposition with savagery; he compels the reader through the boys’ symbolic characters, and their struggle to survive in isolation of society and order. Through “Lord of the Flies,” which is an allegorical novel, Golding warns us of the savagery that is within all of mankind; this is powerfully reflected through the time period in which the novel is set, in the aftermath of the Two World Wars, and the ongoing Atomic war. Ralph’s character throughout the novel is central to the theme of “the loss of innocence” where, once the boys have descended into savagery, we realise that the fear of the beast is simply fear of what mankind can become. As their society collapses, Ralph ultimately comes to discover, and the reader with him, the reality of human nature. The Island plays a vital role in “Lord of the Flies,” symbolising the boys’ isolation, and paralleling their descent from civilisation to savagery. Golding’s first description of the island mirrors a fictional paradise, which is reflected when Ralph describes it as “like in a book... Treasure Island... Coral Island.” Golding uses “Lord of The Flies” partly in a satirical response to the idealism of ‘Coral Island,’ and how it did not reflect the true nature of mankind; at the beginning of the novel, “Beyond the Pool there was more enchantment. Some act of God.” The theme of religion is one that is constant throughout the novel, and strengthens the underlying parable that Golding wants the reader to believe in. Through religion, the themes of good and evil are made more powerful, as we see how the boys are tempted by savagery, abandoning morals and civilisation. However, even from the very beginning of the novel, Golding’s language implies a slightly foreboding undertone: “the skull-like coconuts... the incredible pool, which was clearly only invaded by the sea at high tide...” whilst words such as “incredible” illustrate the initial