English Essay
Are people inherently evil or good?
“He stumbled over a root and the cry that pursued him rose even higher. He saw a shelter burst into flames and the fire flapped at his right shoulder and there was the glitter of water…” Here, Golding describes the transformation from civilization to savagery as a manhunt. Jack’s tribe strives to kill Ralph, the last surviving member of the rival faction on the island. William Golding portrays the inherent evil, goodness, and fearfulness and that there is balance between these three characteristics which is evident in “Lord of the Flies”.
The novel “Lord of the Flies” is based on one significant question that philosophers have been puzzled by for centuries- are humans inherently good or evil? Many say human kind is inherently evil, that there is evil in all of us. William Golding strongly confirms this point in his novel “The Lord of the Flies”. The Lord of the Flies expresses what can happen to man when there is not structure and little mean of survival. “You knew didn’t you? I’m part of you? Close, close, close! I’m the reason why it’s no go? Why things are what they are?”1. In this short excerpt, Golding imposes the idea of inherent evil within humans by portraying it through an illusion. The words “I’m part of you?” clearly suggest that the evil within is taking over the island inch by inch, starting with Simon. Golding utilizes a very interesting set of words: “Why things are what they are?” This means that the Lord of the Flies is the one to blame for all the misfortune that has happened over the course of the book. The passage is used to make the reader experience the fear that Simon was feeling inside of him, as well as to get a sense for the Lord of the Flies, which means the literary feature would be characterization.
“He’s going to beat Wilfred….he didn’t say what for. He got angry and made us tie him up.” This quote shows how Jack has taken over control by making the boys tie up and help beat Wilfred. The
“He stumbled over a root and the cry that pursued him rose even higher. He saw a shelter burst into flames and the fire flapped at his right shoulder and there was the glitter of water…” Here, Golding describes the transformation from civilization to savagery as a manhunt. Jack’s tribe strives to kill Ralph, the last surviving member of the rival faction on the island. William Golding portrays the inherent evil, goodness, and fearfulness and that there is balance between these three characteristics which is evident in “Lord of the Flies”.
The novel “Lord of the Flies” is based on one significant question that philosophers have been puzzled by for centuries- are humans inherently good or evil? Many say human kind is inherently evil, that there is evil in all of us. William Golding strongly confirms this point in his novel “The Lord of the Flies”. The Lord of the Flies expresses what can happen to man when there is not structure and little mean of survival. “You knew didn’t you? I’m part of you? Close, close, close! I’m the reason why it’s no go? Why things are what they are?”1. In this short excerpt, Golding imposes the idea of inherent evil within humans by portraying it through an illusion. The words “I’m part of you?” clearly suggest that the evil within is taking over the island inch by inch, starting with Simon. Golding utilizes a very interesting set of words: “Why things are what they are?” This means that the Lord of the Flies is the one to blame for all the misfortune that has happened over the course of the book. The passage is used to make the reader experience the fear that Simon was feeling inside of him, as well as to get a sense for the Lord of the Flies, which means the literary feature would be characterization.
“He’s going to beat Wilfred….he didn’t say what for. He got angry and made us tie him up.” This quote shows how Jack has taken over control by making the boys tie up and help beat Wilfred. The
Cited: Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. New York, NY: Putnam Publishing Group, 1954. -------------------------------------------- [ 1 ]. (Golding 1954, Ch.8, p.143). [ 2 ]. (Golding 1954, Ch., p. [ 3 ]. (Golding 1954, Ch.7, p.111). 4 (Golding 1954, Ch. 9, p.154)