The Very Unhappy Ending of Lord of The Flies

The Very Unhappy Ending of "Lord of The Flies"

Ever thought about a bunch of kids stuck on an island with no adults around? Sounds like a fun adventure, right? Well, think again. In William Golding's "Lord of the Flies," things take a dark twist. What seems like a survival story quickly turns into chaos and savagery. The ending isn't your typical happy-ever-after—it shows some harsh truths about human nature and how dangerous unchecked impulses can be. This essay takes a deep dive into that not-so-happy ending of "Lord of the Flies." We’ll talk about civilization vs. savagery, losing innocence, and the nasty side of humans.

Civilization vs. Savagery

Let’s kick things off with civilization versus savagery—one big theme in the book. At first, these boys try to keep things civilized by electing leaders and making rules. It’s kinda like setting up their own little government. But it doesn't last long. As time goes by, all those rules fall apart, and the boys give in to their primal instincts. They drop their responsibilities and get violent—like really violent.

Take Jack for example; he starts off playing by the rules but eventually turns savage. He forms his own tribe and leads his group into total chaos. By the end, civilization just fails in the face of pure savagery.

The Loss of Innocence

Then there's this whole loss of innocence thing going on too. These kids start out as just kids, innocent enough when they land on that island. But surviving there changes them, showing us their darker sides.

Remember Roger? He's probably the worst example; near the end, he rolls a boulder that kills Piggy—one of the last voices of reason among them. This act pretty much sums up how far they've fallen from innocence.

The Evil Within

And let’s not forget how Golding touches on inherent evil within us all. Throughout "Lord of the Flies," he suggests everyone has some darkness inside waiting for its chance to come out if given right circumstances.

The book ends with these boys being rescued by a naval officer who represents external authority but is also quite clueless about what went down on that island! Crazy contrast between savage behavior exhibited by these young boys versus order represented by their rescuer makes you wonder: Is this evil confined only when they're isolated or lurking even in society?

Conclusion

In conclusion (not that we wanted one), "Lord Of The Flies" doesn’t leave you smiling as it digs deep into human nature revealing destructive power behind unchecked impulses! Themes like civilization vs savagery alongside loss innocence & inherent evil are explored further within final chapters serving cautionary tale reminding us precarious balance between order chaos–and darkness lying within each person.

This chilling portrayal showcases potential consequences once societal constraints removed proving stark reminder regarding fragility morality humans possess!

• Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. Penguin Books, 1954.
• Baker, James R., et al. “Golding's 'The Lord of the Flies': A Source Book.” Methuen & Co Ltd, 1964.
• Kinkead-Weekes, Mark and Ian Gregor. “William Golding: A Critical Study.” Faber & Faber, 1967.
• Dickson, L.L.. “The Modern Allegories Of William Golding.” University Press Of Florida, 1990.
• Babb, Howard S.. “The Novels Of William Golding.” The Ohio State University Press, 1970.