William Golding Author of Lord of the Flies

Biography Born on September 19, 1911 in Cornwall, England Born on September 19, 1911 in Cornwall, England Died in 1993 in Wiltshire, England Died in 1993 in Wiltshire, England Cornwall

Went to Marlborough Grammar School Went to Marlborough Grammar School Went to Brasenose College, Oxford, to study Natural Sciences. Went to Brasenose College, Oxford, to study Natural Sciences.

More about Golding In 1932 he changed his major to Literature In 1932 he changed his major to Literature 1935 Became a teacher 1935 Became a teacher 1940 Joined the British Royal Navy 1940 Joined the British Royal Navy 1944 Commanded a rocket-launching ship during the invasion of France 1944 Commanded a rocket-launching ship during the invasion of France 1954 Published Lord of the Flies Published Lord of the Flies Won Nobel Prize for Worldwide Literature 1983 Won Nobel Prize for Worldwide Literature

Other Novels The Inheritors (1955) The Inheritors (1955) Pincher Martin (1956) Pincher Martin (1956) Free Fall (1959) Free Fall (1959) The Spire (1964) The Spire (1964) Darkness Visible (1979) Darkness Visible (1979) Rites of Passage (1980) Rites of Passage (1980)

Golding’s Philosophy “man was sick—not exceptional man, but average man.” “man was sick—not exceptional man, but average man.” “the condition of man was to be a morally diseased creature.” “the condition of man was to be a morally diseased creature.” LOTF is“an attempt to trace defects of society back to the defects of human nature.” LOTF is“an attempt to trace defects of society back to the defects of human nature.”

More Beliefs During the war Golding lost trust in man’s innocence. During the war Golding lost trust in man’s innocence. Man is by nature evil and brutal. Man is by nature evil and brutal. Not even children are innocent, though they seem to be. Not even children are innocent, though they seem to be. True nature comes out when man is put to the test (survival). True nature comes out when man is put to the test (survival).

Vision of Humanity The Coral Island (1858) not reality The Coral Island (1858) not reality Stripped of civilization’s social environment, human beings would return to a savage state ruled by fear and basic desire for survival— How will this play a role in LOTF? Stripped of civilization’s social environment, human beings would return to a savage state ruled by fear and basic desire for survival— How will this play a role in LOTF?

Golding’s Themes Defects in society can be traced to the defects in human nature. Defects in society can be traced to the defects in human nature. Civilized society keeps human beings from reverting to a more primitive, savage state. Civilized society keeps human beings from reverting to a more primitive, savage state. All individuals have a natural capacity for brutality. All individuals have a natural capacity for brutality. A society can be judged by the way it treats its most vulnerable citizens. A society can be judged by the way it treats its most vulnerable citizens.