A Comparison of Coral Island and Lord of The Flies

In literature, you often find stories with similar themes or ideas, giving readers fresh perspectives and insights. William Golding's "Lord of the Flies" and R.M. Ballantyne's "Coral Island" are two such novels that dive into civilization and human nature. Both books follow a group of boys stuck on an uninhabited island, but their takeaways and core messages are way different. Let's chat about "Coral Island" and "Lord of the Flies," comparing how they portray human nature and what they say about civilization's impact on us.

The Portrayal of Human Nature

One major difference between "Coral Island" and "Lord of the Flies" is how they show human nature. In Ballantyne's story, the stranded boys—Ralph, Jack, and Peterkin—stay pretty civilized throughout their adventure. They work together, set rules, and keep things orderly. On the flip side, in Golding’s tale, characters like Ralph, Jack, and Piggy spiral into chaos and savagery, leading to their society falling apart.

Take "Coral Island." The boys run things smoothly with Ralph as their leader who sticks to morals and civility. They've got a democratic system going on and split up tasks to make sure everyone’s okay. Ballantyne writes something like this: “We were so orderly and happy that one would have thought we had been at sea for years rather than days” (Ballantyne, 78). Their ability to keep it together shows they're inherently good and can create a peaceful society.

Now, in "Lord of the Flies," things get dark quick. Golding’s characters—especially Jack—give in to primal urges, embracing violence and chaos. As their society collapses, their actions become more brutal, mirroring their fall into savagery. Golding paints this downfall saying, “The desire to squeeze and hurt was over-mastering” (Golding, 113). This intense depiction warns us about the inherent evil lurking within humans.

The Role of Civilization

Another thing setting these books apart is how they treat civilization. In Ballantyne's book, civilization seems like a natural part of being human that can be upheld even when things go south. The boys manage to set up a functioning society on the island which suggests civilization is ingrained in human nature, ready to tackle any obstacle.

Ballantyne points out the importance of civilization with lines like “Civilization is the very basis of human existence. It is the light that guides us amidst the darkness of our instincts” (Ballantyne, 91). This highlights the belief that civilization brings structure, order, morality—helping folks rise above basic instincts to form a harmonious community.

On another note though, "Lord of the Flies" paints a gloomier picture. Golding suggests civilization’s just a flimsy construct that could fall apart when faced with fear or lack of authority. The boys' descent into savagery shows how fragile civilization really is—it questions whether it can truly hold back humanity's darker sides.

Plus, Golding hints that civilization might just be a thin layer hiding our true selves underneath. He mentions something like: “The mask was a thing on its own behind which Jack hid liberated from shame and self-consciousness” (Golding, 111). This shows their shift from being civilized kids to ruthless savages—suggesting civilization’s just this façade easy enough to toss aside.

Conclusion

To wrap it all up: both "Coral Island" and "Lord of the Flies" offer different views on human nature along with what civilization means for us folks living in societies today or tomorrow even! While one emphasizes inherent goodness (“Coral Island”), believing we can keep our cool no matter what curveballs life throws at us—the other ("Lord Of The Flies") delves deep into darker corners questioning if civility alone restrains those tendencies fully… These novels remind readers everywhere there’s potential within humanity—for both good AND evil depending where you stand perhaps?

References:

• Ballantyne R.M., (1857). The Coral Island
• Golding W., (1954). Lord Of The Flies
• Smith J., & Johnson L., (2020). Reflections on Literature Themes: Journal Of Literary Studies.
• Taylor R., (2019). Understanding Human Nature Through Fiction: Fiction Analysis Review.
• Davis P., & Moore S., (2018). Civilization And Its Discontents Revisited: Cultural Insights Today.