After all, we’re not savages.”
- Jack Merridew, (CHAP 2. PG 42.)
William Golding’s Lord of the Flies follows the tale of a group of boys stranded on an isolated desert island, after their plane crashed. It takes place during an unspecified nuclear war; which was a major threat post WWII. Throughout the book Golding explores how a difficult situation can transform middle class
English boys into having a much more savage nature, as well as splitting the ‘good’, from the ‘bad’.
By the end of chapter 1, Ralph and Piggy have already formed some sort of order, and by the time Jack and his choir are introduced, Ralph is already being looked up to by the other boys; especially the younger ones, or “littluns”. …show more content…
In chapter 2, the idea of ‘the beastie’ is introduced, by an unknown ‘littlun’.
Not only does this idea scare him, but also all of the other smaller kids, and to a point , the ‘biguns’ as well. This symbolises, not only to us, but the kids as well, that the island might not be all good, and they might not only be having fun as they thought they would. Other subtle words and phrases used, such as “harsh cry” may also be a sign of events to come.
The fact that the unknown boy who died in the forest fire would have been a massive shock to all of them. Not only is it the shock of someone actually dieing, but it is also the antipode of what they are used to, being safe at home. It might also slam the realization that they are in fact stranded.
In the beginning of chapter 3, Jack’s “obsession” with hunting is clearly apparent, right from the start. It describes him like an animal, “Jack was bent double… His nose only a few inches from the humid earth… bolting