The Lord of the Flies

William Golding Golding writes in reaction to WWII and that evil is within everyone in some aspect. –Navy D-day –“man produces evil, as a bee produces honey.” Humanity as inherently evil

William Golding Writes during Cold War –Environment of fear and rapid advances in technology –Sacrifice of morals for a dictatorship Great violence and death taking place Atomic Bomb, Nazi Germany & Great Depression Golding feels that the violent brutality can be present in other groups

William Golding Golding thought human nature was equal parts good and evil –Against the rationalists thought of humanity being perfected –Instead of social reform to cure humanity of its cruelty, a breakdown in social order would lead to moral meltdown of the individual

William Golding Also comment on post-war confidence in technology –Also relates to Rationalists thought of humanity being perfected Included in advances was the field of psychiatry –Explained emotional disturbances in a logical way »Piggy

The Lord of the Flies 3 key aspects (1) The desire for social and political order through parliaments, governments, and legislatures –platform and the conch (2) The natural inclination toward evil and violence, manifested in every country's need for a military –choir-boys-turned-hunters-turned-murderers and in the war going on in the world beyond the island (3) The belief in supernatural or divine intervention in human destiny –ceremonial dances and sacrifices intended to appease the "beast"

William Golding Published 1954 Noble Prize for Literature in 1983 –Group of British schoolboys marooned on a tropical island after plane is shot down (war) –Evil nature vs. proper civility of British culture Boys will separate into different factions –Placed in life experiences and their reactions –Peaceful, order –Anarchy, evil

The Lord of the Flies Title is literal translation for “Beelzebub” Themes –When removed from civilization, humans return to primitive beings –Evil within humans –The beast is human Contrast between evil nature of boys and culture of civilization they left