William Golding’s William Golding’s Lord of the Flies - 1954Lord of the Flies - 1954

• Originally, Lord of the Flies Originally, Lord of the Flies was only a modest success was only a modest success when it was first published when it was first published in England in 1954.in England in 1954.

• By the time the paperback By the time the paperback edition was published in edition was published in 1959 it began to challenge 1959 it began to challenge The Catcher in the Rye as The Catcher in the Rye as the most popular book on the most popular book on American college American college campuses. campuses.

• By mid-1962 it had By mid-1962 it had sold more than sold more than 65,000 copies and 65,000 copies and was required reading was required reading on more than one on more than one hundred campuses. hundred campuses.

• The book seemed to The book seemed to appeal to the appeal to the adolescents’ natural adolescents’ natural skepticism about the skepticism about the allegedly humane allegedly humane values of adult values of adult society.society.

• It also captured the It also captured the interest of teachers interest of teachers and other adults and other adults because of the because of the deeper symbolic or deeper symbolic or allegorical meanings allegorical meanings in the story. in the story.

• Ultimately, the Ultimately, the question remains…question remains…is it a story of is it a story of civilization over civilization over savagery or savagery or savagery over savagery over civilization? civilization?

What is an allegorical novel?What is an allegorical novel?

• An allegory is the presentation of an An allegory is the presentation of an abstract idea through more concrete abstract idea through more concrete means. means.

• An allegorical novel is one that An allegorical novel is one that conveys many of its main ideas and conveys many of its main ideas and themes through symbolic characters themes through symbolic characters and objects. and objects.

Star WarsStar Wars

•Darth Vador Darth Vador and the Death and the Death Star = EvilStar = Evil

•Luke Luke Skywalker and Skywalker and the Force = the Force = GoodGood

Characters Characters • Ralph Ralph • Is an natural leader and Is an natural leader and

is immediately selected is immediately selected by some of his peers to by some of his peers to take charge.take charge.

• He is decent, kind, a He is decent, kind, a good observer and good observer and genuinely is concerned genuinely is concerned for the welfare of the for the welfare of the others.others.

• However, he does not However, he does not possess charisma or possess charisma or the X-Factor which the X-Factor which makes the others makes the others believe what he is believe what he is saying is in their best saying is in their best interset.interset.

• JackJack

• Rather than being Rather than being elected or suggested elected or suggested by the others; Jack by the others; Jack appoints himself chief. appoints himself chief.

• Jack was the head of Jack was the head of the choir at prep the choir at prep school and the choir school and the choir boys follow/gravitate boys follow/gravitate to him as a leader.to him as a leader.

• Jack turns the choir Jack turns the choir into a group of into a group of hunters.hunters.

• Jack is controlling, Jack is controlling, manipulative, political, manipulative, political, and power-hungry.and power-hungry.

• PiggyPiggy

• He is smart and He is smart and rational but is rational but is overweight and has overweight and has asthma; thus making asthma; thus making him the butt of several him the butt of several jokes.jokes.

• Piggy is scientific in Piggy is scientific in thought and possesses thought and possesses a voice of reasona voice of reason

• He is a man of thought He is a man of thought not a man of action. not a man of action. He is wise and mature He is wise and mature beyond his years.beyond his years.

• SimonSimon

• Simon is prophetic Simon is prophetic and sensitive; yet and sensitive; yet inarticulate but inarticulate but may have the most may have the most clear grasp on clear grasp on reality of them all.reality of them all.

• Symbolic of Christ-Symbolic of Christ-like figure like figure

• He is Ralph’s right He is Ralph’s right hand man.hand man.

• RogerRoger

• He is an older He is an older boy “Bigun” and boy “Bigun” and he is Jack’s right he is Jack’s right hand manhand man

• He is intense, He is intense, pessimistic, and pessimistic, and has a desire for has a desire for power over power over others.others.

• BillBill

• He is a confused He is a confused character and is at character and is at war with his own war with his own values and those of values and those of the two groups of the two groups of boys. boys.

• HenryHenry

• Is the biggest litlun Is the biggest litlun and a relative of and a relative of the littlun with the the littlun with the mulberry-marked mulberry-marked face.face.

• Henry is Henry is sometimes picked sometimes picked on but really just on but really just wants to be one of wants to be one of the guys.the guys.

• JohnnyJohnny

• He is the smallest He is the smallest of the litluns of the litluns

• He is described as He is described as well-built, with fair well-built, with fair hair and a natural hair and a natural belligerence.belligerence.

• Maurice Maurice

• He is a ‘bigun’ He is a ‘bigun’

• He possesses good He possesses good and bad traits and and bad traits and is struggling is struggling between the two.between the two.

• He too has a He too has a scientific mind, but scientific mind, but ultimately is a ultimately is a follower.follower.

The littlun with the The littlun with the mulberry-marked facemulberry-marked face

• Otherwise unidentified except as a Otherwise unidentified except as a distant relative of Henry. distant relative of Henry.

• He claims to have seen a “snake He claims to have seen a “snake thing” on the islandthing” on the island

• He disappears…He disappears…

• PercivalPercival

• Is described as Is described as “mouse-colored and “mouse-colored and had not been very had not been very attractive…” attractive…”

• Along with Johnny Along with Johnny he is one of the he is one of the smallest litlunssmallest litluns

• He is kind of a cry He is kind of a cry baby baby

Robert and Phil Robert and Phil

• RobertRobert

• He is described as He is described as a medium-sized a medium-sized boy and is one of boy and is one of the biguns the biguns

• Robert is more Robert is more comfortable taking comfortable taking orders than giving orders than giving themthem

• PhilPhil

• Phil is one of the Phil is one of the more self-confident more self-confident litlunslitluns

• He is frightened He is frightened and bothered by a and bothered by a dream that he dream that he shares with the shares with the other boys. other boys.

• SamnericSamneric• As twins they are As twins they are

often together and often together and thus their name is thus their name is combined from Sam combined from Sam and Eric to Samneric.and Eric to Samneric.

• They are both rather They are both rather helpful to Ralph and helpful to Ralph and to Piggy at times.to Piggy at times.

• These two ultimately These two ultimately have to choose have to choose between their fears between their fears or their friends.or their friends.

SettingSetting• This deserted “Coral Island” This deserted “Coral Island”

can be a wonderfully warm can be a wonderfully warm sandy place but also a sandy place but also a place of nightmares and place of nightmares and facing your own fears.facing your own fears.

• There are two sides to the There are two sides to the island…the soft sandy island…the soft sandy beach which faces the beach which faces the warm lagoon where the warm lagoon where the boys bathe and play.boys bathe and play.

• And the other has the And the other has the formidable rocky cliff butted formidable rocky cliff butted up against the cold and up against the cold and enormous ocean.enormous ocean.

• These two settings These two settings represent the two represent the two sides/struggles of human sides/struggles of human nature Golding suggests in nature Golding suggests in his novel. his novel.

Point of ViewPoint of View• William Golding uses the William Golding uses the

omniscient point of viewomniscient point of view

• Omni (root) = all Omni (root) = all

• Sci (root) = knowledgeSci (root) = knowledge

• Omniscient = all knowing Omniscient = all knowing

• This means that the narrator This means that the narrator knows every characters knows every characters thoughts, actions, and motives thoughts, actions, and motives and shares them with the and shares them with the reader.reader.

• He is like a bystander, He is like a bystander, observing from above the observing from above the action of the book and action of the book and comments what is going on.comments what is going on.

Themes Themes • Good vs. EvilGood vs. Evil• During their During their

abandonment on the abandonment on the island many of the island many of the boys show or boys show or demonstrate demonstrate elements of good in elements of good in their character.their character.

• However, some However, some demonstrate more demonstrate more good or virtue than good or virtue than others. others.

• Yet all of these Yet all of these characters characters ultimately fall ultimately fall victim to the forces victim to the forces of evil.of evil.

• Some of the tools, Some of the tools, such as the ability such as the ability to make fire, are to make fire, are used differently by used differently by those characters those characters who represent who represent good and by those good and by those who represent evil. who represent evil.

Reason and EmotionReason and Emotion• Characters…like Piggy are Characters…like Piggy are

used by Golding to used by Golding to represent reason and represent reason and emotion.emotion.

• Piggy is a reasonable and Piggy is a reasonable and intellectual boyintellectual boy

• The hunters are driven by The hunters are driven by emotion emotion

• This struggle is seen with This struggle is seen with in characters and between in characters and between characterscharacters

• Golding’s theme has been Golding’s theme has been said to be a predictor of said to be a predictor of the doom of humanity: the the doom of humanity: the warring powers of reason warring powers of reason and emotion.and emotion.

Appearance vs. RealityAppearance vs. Reality

• Golding carefully crafts the materials Golding carefully crafts the materials of the complexity of human life of the complexity of human life

• The use of the motif (mini-recurring-The use of the motif (mini-recurring-theme) sun (blinding yet comforting) theme) sun (blinding yet comforting) and night/darkness (nightmares and and night/darkness (nightmares and the beastie) the beastie)

• Painted faces Painted faces

• shadowsshadows

Morality Morality • Golding has said that Golding has said that

writing Lord of the Flies writing Lord of the Flies was “an attempt to was “an attempt to trace the defects of trace the defects of society back to the society back to the defects of human defects of human nature.”nature.”

• By using children, which By using children, which in society are the in society are the closest to innocent, closest to innocent, uncorrupted people, he uncorrupted people, he tries to expose the tries to expose the natural instinct of natural instinct of humanityhumanity

• In an interview, Golding commented In an interview, Golding commented that, “the moral is that the shape of that, “the moral is that the shape of a society must depend on the ethical a society must depend on the ethical nature of the individual and not on nature of the individual and not on any political system.”any political system.”

• What does this mean to you?What does this mean to you?

• Try and create an example that Try and create an example that would apply to your life or life as a would apply to your life or life as a student at school.student at school.

Biblical Motifs in Biblical Motifs in Lord of the Lord of the FliesFlies

• Motifs are recurring structures, Motifs are recurring structures, contrasts, or literary devices that can contrasts, or literary devices that can help to develop and inform the text’s help to develop and inform the text’s major themes.major themes.

•Many critics have characterized Many critics have characterized Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies as a retelling of as a retelling of episodes from the Bible. episodes from the Bible.

•These biblical parallels function as These biblical parallels function as a kind of subtle motif in the novela kind of subtle motif in the novel

Biblical Motifs in Biblical Motifs in Lord of the Lord of the FliesFlies

• The island itself, particularly Simon’s glade The island itself, particularly Simon’s glade in the forest, recalls the Garden of Eden in in the forest, recalls the Garden of Eden in its status as an originally pristine place its status as an originally pristine place that is corrupted by the introduction of that is corrupted by the introduction of evil. evil.

• Similarly, we may see the Lord of the Flies Similarly, we may see the Lord of the Flies as a representation of the devil, for it as a representation of the devil, for it works to promote evil among humankind. works to promote evil among humankind.

• Furthermore, many critics have drawn Furthermore, many critics have drawn strong parallels between Simon and Jesus. strong parallels between Simon and Jesus.

• However, it is important to remember that However, it is important to remember that the parallels between Simon and Christ the parallels between Simon and Christ are not complete, and that there are limits are not complete, and that there are limits to reading to reading Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies purely as a purely as a Christian allegory. Christian allegory.

• Simon—and Simon—and Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies as a whole— as a whole—echoes Christian ideas and themes without echoes Christian ideas and themes without developing explicit, precise parallels with developing explicit, precise parallels with them. The novel’s biblical parallels them. The novel’s biblical parallels enhance its moral themes but are not enhance its moral themes but are not necessarily the primary key to interpreting necessarily the primary key to interpreting the story.the story.

What are the symbols inWhat are the symbols in Lord of the Flies?Lord of the Flies?

• What is a symbol? What is a symbol?

• Symbols are objects, characters, Symbols are objects, characters, figures, or colors used to represent figures, or colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts.abstract ideas or concepts.

SymbolismSymbolism• Ralph and Piggy discover Ralph and Piggy discover

the conch shell on the beach the conch shell on the beach at the start of the novel and at the start of the novel and use it to summon the boys use it to summon the boys together after the crash together after the crash separates them. separates them.

• The conch shell becomes a The conch shell becomes a powerful symbol of powerful symbol of civilization and order in the civilization and order in the novel. novel.

• The shell effectively governs The shell effectively governs the boys’ meetings, for the the boys’ meetings, for the boy who holds the shell boy who holds the shell holds the right to speak. holds the right to speak.

• Piggy is the most Piggy is the most intelligent, rational intelligent, rational boy in the group, boy in the group, and his glasses and his glasses represent the power represent the power of science and of science and intellectual intellectual endeavor in society.endeavor in society.

• The boys use the The boys use the lenses from Piggy’s lenses from Piggy’s glasses to focus the glasses to focus the sunlight and start a sunlight and start a fire. fire.

The BeastieThe Beastie• The beast that The beast that

frightens all the frightens all the boys stands for the boys stands for the primal instinct of primal instinct of savagery that exists savagery that exists within all human within all human beings. beings.

• The boys are afraid The boys are afraid of the beast, but of the beast, but only Simon reaches only Simon reaches the realization of the realization of why they fear the why they fear the beast. beast.

Signal FireSignal Fire• The signal fire burns The signal fire burns

on the mountain, and on the mountain, and later on the beach, to later on the beach, to attract the notice of attract the notice of passing ships that passing ships that might be able to might be able to rescue the boys. As a rescue the boys. As a result, the signal fire result, the signal fire becomes a gauge of becomes a gauge of the boys’ connection the boys’ connection to civilization. to civilization.

The Pig’s head:The Pig’s head: AKA = The Lord of the Flies AKA = The Lord of the Flies

• The Lord of the Flies is the The Lord of the Flies is the bloody, severed sow’s head bloody, severed sow’s head that Jack impales on a stake that Jack impales on a stake in the forest glade as an in the forest glade as an offering to the beast. offering to the beast.

• This complicated symbol This complicated symbol becomes the most becomes the most important image in the important image in the novel.novel.

• The Lord of the Flies The Lord of the Flies becomes both a physical becomes both a physical manifestation of the beast, manifestation of the beast, a symbol of the power of a symbol of the power of evil, and a kind of Satan evil, and a kind of Satan figure who evokes the beast figure who evokes the beast within each human being. within each human being.

Ralph, Piggy, Jack, Simon, and Ralph, Piggy, Jack, Simon, and Roger also function as symbolic Roger also function as symbolic

characterscharacters• Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies is an allegorical is an allegorical novel, and many of its characters novel, and many of its characters signify important ideas or themes. signify important ideas or themes.

• Ralph = order, leadership, and Ralph = order, leadership, and civilizationcivilization

• Piggy = the scientific and intellectual Piggy = the scientific and intellectual aspects of civilizationaspects of civilization

• Jack = unbridled savagery and the Jack = unbridled savagery and the desire for powerdesire for power

• Simon = natural human goodness Simon = natural human goodness • Roger = brutality & bloodlust Roger = brutality & bloodlust

Historical ContextHistorical Context1950’s Today1950’s Today

• Economically Great Economically Great Brittan was devastated Brittan was devastated by World War IIby World War II

• Homes, businesses, Homes, businesses, and infrastructure had and infrastructure had been destroyed by the been destroyed by the German air forceGerman air force

• Food and gasoline Food and gasoline became rationed to became rationed to the citizensthe citizens

• For the first time in the For the first time in the nations history it nations history it became a nation in became a nation in debt, rather than a debt, rather than a lender nationlender nation

• Great Brittan has Great Brittan has regained economic regained economic stability, though not stability, though not to the level it had to the level it had enjoyed prior to enjoyed prior to World War IIWorld War II

Historical ContextHistorical Context1950’s Today1950’s Today

• Politically Great Brittan Politically Great Brittan was ruled by the Labor was ruled by the Labor Party: basic industries Party: basic industries were nationalized and were nationalized and health care was made health care was made available for everybodyavailable for everybody

• With the coming of the With the coming of the Cold War they sided Cold War they sided with the United States with the United States against Russian against Russian expansionism expansionism

• Great Brittan remains Great Brittan remains politically strong and politically strong and recently had been an recently had been an ally during the Iraq ally during the Iraq WarWar

• With the fall of the With the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War in end of the Cold War in the 1980’s they have the 1980’s they have been able to focus been able to focus more of their energy more of their energy on regional problemson regional problems

Historical ContextHistorical Context1950’s Today1950’s Today

• Biological oriented Biological oriented psychologists Like psychologists Like Arnold Gesell Arnold Gesell believe that a believe that a child’s intellectual child’s intellectual development is only development is only marginally affected marginally affected by environment, by environment, while other while other scientists argue scientists argue that it plays a more that it plays a more dominant role.dominant role.

• Scientific studies Scientific studies using brain scans using brain scans have shown have shown physical differences physical differences between the brains between the brains of healthy children of healthy children and abused and abused children, suggesting children, suggesting experiences can experiences can actually change the actually change the circuitry (original circuitry (original design) of the brain.design) of the brain.

What is the central theme in What is the central theme in Lord Of the Flies?Lord Of the Flies?

• civilization vs. savagerycivilization vs. savagery

• order vs. chaosorder vs. chaos

• reason vs. impulsereason vs. impulse

• law vs. anarchylaw vs. anarchy

• good vs. evilgood vs. evil

• Golding associates the instinct of Golding associates the instinct of civilization with good civilization with good

• and the instinct of savagery with and the instinct of savagery with evil. evil.

More ThemesMore Themes

• Loss of Innocence = what does that Loss of Innocence = what does that mean?mean?

• Have you lost your innocence?Have you lost your innocence?

• Is it a normal part of life to lose your Is it a normal part of life to lose your innocence?innocence?

• Why would the boys who are stranded on Why would the boys who are stranded on the deserted island lose their innocence the deserted island lose their innocence there rather than earlier or later?there rather than earlier or later?

Ask yourselves…Ask yourselves…

• Are human beings Are human beings inherently (from inherently (from birth) benevolent birth) benevolent and sympathetic and sympathetic creatures that creatures that fear conflict, and fear conflict, and crave order, crave order, rules, social rules, social harmony?harmony?

Or…Or…

• Are human beings inherently (from Are human beings inherently (from birth) aggressive, hostile, creates birth) aggressive, hostile, creates that have only been domesticated that have only been domesticated and conditioned by the society that and conditioned by the society that we exist in, but were we to be we exist in, but were we to be removed from that environment we removed from that environment we would regress back to our natural, would regress back to our natural, possibly savage nature?possibly savage nature?