Lord of the Flies

Lord of the Flies is an allegorical novel by author William Golding. It focuses on a group of schoolboys who have crash landed on an unknown island, and are forced to rely entirely on themselves to survive. The boys elect their leader, Ralph, who strives to maintain civility on the island. Slowly, he fails, and the delicate order that the boy's attempt to preserve visibly fades away. The brutal killing of a pig, the savage dance, and ultimately, the inhumane murder of Simon, convinces the reader of the savage role the boys have taken on.

Briefly before the animalistic murder of Simon, Jack, the source of savage on the island, makes a ploy for his leadership, and challenges Ralph’s authority over the boys. Jack loses, however, the victory, was hollow for Ralph as most of the boys followed Jack anyway. Jack and his new tribe of savage hunters then violently kill a pig for food and sport. After murdering the pig, Roger placed the pig’s head on “a stick sharpened on both ends”, and jammed it into the ground somewhere in the forest, for all to see and admire, and primarily as a sacrifice to “the beast”, which many assume exists on the island.

Although Ralph won the leadership battle with Jack, most of the other boys surrendered themselves into Jack’s tribe. They do so, primarily to “hunt and feast and have fun” and indulge themselves in pointless, childish interests. The boys follow Jack for food and protection, whereas Ralph’s prime goal is to achieve civility and ultimately, to be rescued. The boys, being young and naive, would much rather have fun, than obey orders from Ralph. Furthermore, when the idea of a mythical beast is introduced by the littluns, the boys succumb to Jack, as he offers protection; and to many of the boys, is a much stronger and supported figure than Ralph.

With his newly acquired group of hunters, Jack promises a feast on the island. He invites Ralph and Piggy to dine with him, however, the feast soon turns into a debate about the boy’s...