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Lord of the Flies Background Notes.

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1 Lord of the Flies Background Notes

2 Background Info A dark, allegorical novel by the British writer William Golding about a group of boys stranded on a desert island. Despite their attempts to establish a civilized democratic society, the boys eventually revert to totalitarianism and primitive savagery. Golding won the 1983 Nobel Prize for literature. Totalitarianism: the political concept that the citizen should be totally subject to an absolute state authority

3 Book Information Published in 1954, Lord of the Flies was Golding's first novel, and although it was not a great success at the time —selling fewer than 3,000 copies in the United States during 1955 before going out of print —it soon went on to become a bestseller, and by the early 1960s was required reading in many schools and colleges. It was adapted to film in 1963 by Peter Brook, and again in 1990 by Harry Hook.

4 Allegory Work of written, oral, or visual expression that uses symbolic figures, objects, and actions to convey truths or generalizations about human conduct or experience.

5 Allegorical Figures / Items
Ralph Piggy Jack Simon Sam and Eric Roger “Littluns” Conch Glasses Fire Lord of the Flies Mask Beast Island Darkness Mountain Forest Beach Castle Rock Flies

6 Two Key Philosophers John Locke Thomas Hobbes

7 Common Questions What is the nature of man?
What will man do in a state of nature? Can man tell the difference between right and wrong? How do we know what we know? What is the purpose of conflict?

8 Hobbes’ Perspective Man is not a “social animal,” and can only get along with other people if dominated by the state. Without civilization, life is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” Man has no empathy, and thus will kill to gain property from their enemies. The only peace comes from dominance by a single autocrat. Kings will inevitably fight until there is just one.

9 Hobbes’ Conclusions Create an autocratic dictator, to retain peace in the kingdom. As long as people don’t rebel and don’t say anything against the king, they have the right to not die. You have no rights. You gave them up, in exchange for the right to not be killed. The state cannot be unjust. Everything the state does is a reflection of the ruler’s will, and is therefore just.

10 Locke’s Perspective Humans are inherently social animals.
In a state of nature, most people will act justly. The state of nature, though, is insecure. Humans know the difference between right and wrong. Unfortunately, they sometimes don’t act on that knowledge. All humans have “natural rights,” that must be protected from the oppression of the government.

11 Locke’s Conclusions We have certain inalienable rights (life, liberty, etc.), but our other rights can be given up in exchange for justice from the government. A ruler who demands absolute power puts himself at war with his subjects. The only role of the state is to ensure justice. People can overthrow their leaders if those leaders violate the social contract, and do not provide justice, or try to take inalienable rights.


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