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Analytical Essay On Lord Of The Flies

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Lord of the Flies Analysis Paper Human nature is a common topic of debate amongst many fields of study, from studies done by psychologists to almost any sort of fictional literature. Lord of the Flies by William Golding is one such piece of literature; namely, Golding explores the conflict of civility against savagery. The trials the boys face on the uninhabited island seem to lead only to the conclusion that society cannot win out against what Golding believes to be the true disposition of humankind, brutality. Golding utilizes a variety of techniques to showcase his theme such as metaphor and simile, symbols and allegory, and his exploitation of aspects of society. It must be noted that Lord of the Flies is often seen as a sort of response to the work The Coral Island by R. M. Ballantyne, a book that features a group of boys also stranded on an island. In fact, …show more content…

There arises a problem with being part of a mass though, the trouble of group think or mob mentality. It is group think that causes the boys to find it acceptable to pick on Piggy and Simon for not quite fitting in, and the boys treat the little ones quite similarly often disregarding their thoughts and fears. When Jack forms his own tribe he solidifies it by holding a feast, eating together as a way to prove he can provide for them and showing he can give them something that Ralph’s group couldn’t. Once the meal has been eaten the group engages in a hunting dance that draws in even Ralph and Piggy; the dance becomes wilder as it progresses until it’s a mob of rabid savages. When Simon bursts forth from the jungle into this mass there is no hope for the boy who was already a social outcast and the mob surges around him until he lies dead on the sand. Ralph and Piggy are able to brush this aside by claiming they left before it started, which isn’t entirely false as their minds left while their bodies remained a part of the

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