Discuss how Golding uses symbols to explore his view of human nature.
Golding uses several symbols in Lord of the Flies to express the differnt aspects of human nature that we as humans do not always notice. Throughout the book Golding uses these symbols to show us how civilisation breaks down without authority; how brains aren’t always better than brawn and how matter what your age conditioning has affected your lives. Although not always apparent the conch, the fire, Piggys glasses, the knife, Madisons phones number and the war paint are all prominant symbols in the book and play a very important role in expressing what Golding thinks of human nature.
Without authority, civilisation breaks down. The beacon fire on top of the mountain represents a barometer of civilisation. When the fire is burning, the children are still civilised and want to be rescued. However when it goes out, civilisation is lost and rescue is not deemed inportant. Throughout the book we see the beacon fire lit and put out this shows us the fluxing of conditioning. Whn the idea of a fire is first mentioned “half the boys were on their feet” and “laughing with triumphant pleasure” they all seem intent on rescue. Later on in the book though the fire is forgotten about and left “dead” with the prospect of something new and exciting to do such as hunting. Here we see civilisation start to sway, most of the boys would rather “kill a pig” and become hunters than take responsibility and look after the fire.
The Report on Films Based from the Book of William Golding
Wake up! Don’t fall asleep just yet, this is your regular boring review this on is different. Both of these films are based on the book by William Golding. First one known as the black and white version directed by Peter Brook in 1963 and the second version and most recent, directed by Harry Hook, known as the American version made in 1990. These films are based on the same story but still very ...
Another symbol of civilisation is the conch, not only does it represent the importance of civilisation it also shows us how fragile and precious civilisation is. In the very beginning of the book when the conch is first discovered it and whoever holds it is respected. When the election for a chief is helf and Ralph is chosen it isn’t just his “his size and attractive appearance” that people elect him for it was the fact that “there was the conch” and he was the one who had blown it. This shows us that the children respect authority and the conch is seen as a authorative figure. In civilisation authority is key and therefore the conch is key to the civilisation on the island. We see the conch again and again when meetings are held. Ralph decides in the second meeting they hold that he’ll “give the conch to the next person to speak”.
In society we are told to look at everyones attributes as equal whether this be brains, brawn or beauty but on the island this conditioning no longer exists and brawn becomes leader of the pack. In Lord of the Flies we see Jack rise to power as he has the knife whereas Piggy is shunned to the bottom of the pack even though he is easily the smartest one on the island and the boys would benefit having someone as pragmatic as Piggy leading them. Instead he is picked on and generally cast aside right up until his death. It is only after that, that we see the boys realise what Piggy brought to the island and how even though they rejected him he still tried to help as often as possible.
The book shows us that no matter what our age or upbringing is, we are all slightly savage inside. Jack is the first of the boys to become savage as he is taken over by an overwhelming passion when hunting the Pig. He then slowly reels more and more boys in as he corrupts their minds. We see this happening throughout the book. As the boys become more and more savage, removing their clothes, painting their faces we see the very bones that society is built on start to crumble. All conditioning is abandoned and the power to hurt builds and builds till the children can no longer control this. Killing and causing pain seems as if it is a second nature to a lot of the boys. Roger especially appears to have no quams in hurting Samneric although we do see him hesitate in the early stages of the book when he tries to throw stones at Henry. He wants to but simply can’t, however this quickly changes and we see him as a furtive yet vindictive character.
The Term Paper on Essay On The Book Savage Inequalities
Xavier Whit acre Professor, Dr. Piliawsky EHP 3600 02 June, 2003 Throughout my life, I have tended to view myself as conservative and believed strongly in state? s rights as well as strong local control with respect to governmental policies, particularly in education expenditures. Jonathan Kozol? s book, Savage Inequalities addresses this topic of governmental control over education with a ...
Throughout the story we see conditioning broken down, for some it takes longer than others. Generally it is the littluns who become unconditioned first. We see this in several ways. Percival Wemys Madison forgetting his phone number is a significant moment in the book as this is the first time we see what happens without lack of conditioning. We see boys loose clothes, go barefoot, hunting, killing and becoming more and more like animals in each chapter of the book. Ralph is the only one on the island who never really looses his conditioning. He always wanted to leave the island, to go back to his parents even though he knew things wouldnt be the same. Although Ralph wasnt the oldest boy on the island he certainly seemed the most mature and his conditioning may have had something to do with that.
Goldings view is not defined by the symbols he uses more so the symbols define his view on human nature. Golding believes that we are all savages inside that have been conditioned since birth to behave in a way that means we will fit into a society that already exists. However once that conditioning is no longer drilled in every day it begins to fade and once again we all convert back to our savage ways.
