The Consequences of Roger's Actions: a Analysis of Quotes from Lord of The Flies

Stranded on an Island: A Dive into 'Lord of the Flies'

Imagine being stuck on a deserted island with no rules, no adults, and nobody to tell you what's right or wrong. That's pretty much what happens in William Golding's classic novel, "Lord of the Flies". Among all the chaos, Piggy stands out as the voice of reason and civilization, clashing with the wild side that shows up in the other boys. One part that really gets under your skin is when Roger, who starts out all shy and obedient, ends up killing Piggy in cold blood. This essay will dive into why this moment matters so much, looking at quotes from the book that show how Roger changes and what his actions lead to.

The Shocking Change in Roger

Roger's shift from a quiet kid to a ruthless killer is a huge deal in "Lord of the Flies". You can see it happening in this quote: "Roger gathered a handful of stones and began to throw them. Yet there was a space round Henry, perhaps six yards in diameter, into which he dare not throw. Here, invisible yet strong, was the taboo of the old life. Round the squatting child was the protection of parents and school and policemen and the law." (Golding, 62). This bit shows that Roger still had some respect for society’s rules at first. But as time goes by on that island? Yeah, those rules start to fade away.

As Roger starts losing his sense of restraint, his dark side becomes clearer. Check out this quote: "Roger stooped, picked up a stone, aimed, and threw it at Henry—threw it to miss. The stone, that token of preposterous time, bounded five yards to Henry's right and fell in the water." (Golding, 62). So here’s Roger just testing waters with his freedom by intentionally missing Henry. It shows he wants to hurt people but hasn’t completely crossed over to doing real harm yet.

The Terrifying Climax

Eventually though? Roger totally gives in to his savage instincts when he kills Piggy—the guy who's basically logic and smarts personified. When you read "Roger, with a sense of delirious abandonment leaned all his weight on the lever" (Golding, 200), you can feel how chilling this moment is. That word "delirious" tells us he's lost himself completely—no logic or conscience left at all. Killing Piggy wipes out what little order was left among them.

So yeah—in conclusion—these quotes about Roger killing Piggy show us what happens when savagery runs unchecked: everything falls apart big time! His journey from holding back violence toward full-blown brutality sums up what Golding wanted readers to think about society breaking down without rules keeping us together—it makes ya wonder if darkness might be lurking inside everyone after all!

References

1. Golding, W., (1954). Lord of the Flies. Penguin Books.
2. Rosenfield J., (1998). The Human Nature Debate: Lessons from Lord Of The Flies.
3. Kinkead-Weekes M., & Gregor I., (1984). William Golding: A Critical Study.
4. Smith B.R., (2003). Understanding Lord Of The Flies: A Student Casebook To Issues.
5. Woodward G.C., (1979). Survivalism In Literature - An Analysis On “Lord Of The Flies”.