Analysis of Allegory in The Lord of The Flies by William Golding

Introduction

William Golding wrote "The Lord of The Flies" to convey his allegory about the world. Throughout the book, there are numerous examples of innocent children turning into savages because of the beast inside them. Golding lived through two world wars, which profoundly changed his perspective on humans. Therefore, in this essay, it can be argued that he believes humans are savage at heart, constantly in a struggle for power, and only follow those who benefit them the most.

Analysis of Allegory in "The Lord of The Flies" by William Golding

The British novelist William Golding exemplified that humans are constantly at war for power. At the beginning of the novel, Ralph was the undeniable leader after he blew the conch to signal all of the other stranded children. However, as the story progresses, Jack couldn't handle Ralph being the leader and desired to take the leadership role himself by challenging Ralph’s authority and eventually creating another group under his command. Jack stated: “I’m not going to be part of Ralph's lot… I’m going off by myself.” This illustrates the idea that people tend to follow those who offer them the most benefits. Jack further exposed this notion when he took a feast to the rest of Ralph's lot to convince them to join him. “We will take the meat along the beach and invite them to a feast,” he declared, leading a few to abandon Ralph in favor of Jack. This struggle for power is a recurring theme in human history, underscoring Golding's belief in the inherent savagery within humans.

Another idea Golding might be portraying in his book is that humans are naturally savage at heart. An example of this is the choir group. Initially, “The creature stepped from mirage onto clear sand, and they saw that the darkness was not all shadow but mostly clothing. The creature was a party of boys, marching approximately in step in two parallel lines and dressed in strangely eccentric clothing. Shorts, shirts, and different garments they carried in their hands; but each boy wore a square black cap with a silver badge on it. Their bodies from throat to ankle were hidden by black coats, which bore a long silver cross on the left side of the chest; each neck was finished off with a hambone frill.” The boy who controlled them was dressed the same way, but his cap was golden. Towards the end of the book, they were different: “Each of them wore the remains of a black cap and ages ago they had stood in 2 rows, and their voices have been the song of angels.” “We’ll hunt,” said Jack. Jack, who once led them in choir singing, now leads them in hunting and being beastly and savage.

Despite this inherent savagery, not all humans are savage all the time; some try to resist their natures and be good. Ralph asserts, “We've got to have rules and obey them. After all, we're not savages. We're English, and the English are best at everything.” However, in the end, those who are good-natured didn't last in "The Lord of The Flies." Both Simon and Piggy, the two nicest and most helpful individuals on the island, perished. Meanwhile, Ralph and Jack, who fought for power, and Jack, who became the most savage of all, survived and made it off the island. This outcome suggests that Golding saw a grim reality in which the inherent savagery of humans often prevails over the more civilized aspects of society.

Conclusion

In conclusion, William Golding's experiences in his lifetime helped him write and convey the allegories in the critically acclaimed "The Lord of The Flies." The novel suggests that humans are in a constant struggle for power, they are savages at heart, and only follow those who can benefit them the most. This reflection on human nature remains relevant and thought-provoking, as it challenges readers to examine the darker aspects of their own humanity.

References

Golding, W. (1954). The Lord of the Flies. Faber and Faber.

Boyd, S. J. (1988). The Novels of William Golding. Harvester Wheatsheaf.

Baker, J. R. (1994). William Golding: A Critical Study. St. Martin's Press.