topics for lord of the flies essay

89 Lord of the Flies Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🔝 top-10 lord of the flies research paper topics, 🏆 best lord of the flies essay titles, 📌 creative lord of the flies thesis ideas, 👍 good titles for lord of the flies essay, ❓ lord of the flies: important questions.

• Ralph’s character development in “Lord of the Flies.”
• The main theme in “Lord of the Flies.”
• The success of William Golding’s debut novel.
• “Lord of the Flies”: a discussion of innocence and power.
• The role of the conch in “Lord of the Flies.”
• Civilization vs. savagery in “Lord of the Flies.”
• William Golding’s commentary on human nature and evil.
• The symbolism of fear in “Lord of the Flies.”
• A literary analysis of “Lord of the Flies.”
• “Lord of the Flies”: a summary of events.
• “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding The reader will wonder that all the boys respond in the same manner to the sound of the blown shell. The author uses aesthetics to drive emotions out of the reader about the value of […]
• Symbolism in “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding In The Lord of the Flies, the fire in the story is lit as a symbol of hope and rescue. The island in The Lord Of The Flies resembled the perfect type of Utopia at […]
• Evil in “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding The idea is that we are born with both the capacity of good and the capacity of evil and that the way we are raised, or the environment in which we live determines how we […]
• Lord of the Flies, an Allegorical Novel by William Golding As the auction proceeds, the reader follows the heartbreaking events of the book. Boys hunt down a pig and place its head on a stick as an ‘offering’ to the ‘beast’.
• Writing on the Novel I Love: Lord of the Flies In a given Lord of the Flies essay, one needs to illustrate the different themes used by Golding in his novel.
• Lord of the Flies: Novel Analysis The sinister nature of the novel is inferred in the title which derives from the Hebrew word, Ba’al-zvuv which means god of the fly, host of the fly or literally the Lord of Flies a […]
• Human Nature in “Lord of the Flies” by Golding Considering this, the present paper will analyze the validity of the given statement by drawing on the experiences of characters in Lord of the Flies and evaluating the conditions in which they lived.
• Literature Studies: “Lord of the Flies” by W. Golding Although Jack Merridew, one of the lead characters of William Golding’s shockingly unforgettable Lord of the Flies novel, is a child and still has a lot to learn in terms of how society works, the […]
• A Comprehensive Analysis of the Key Elements of “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
• The Role of Simon in “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
• Literary Comparison of Ballantyne’s “Coral Island” and Golding’s Island in “Lord of the Flies”
• Attitude Towards Children in the Story “Lord of the Flies”
• Jack as a Symbol of Savagery and Anarchy in “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
• A Description of the Potential for Evil in Everyone as One of the Theme in the Novel “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
• Evil in Humanity in “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
• Savagery and the Beast Theme in “Lord of the Flies”
• The Fall of Civilization Into Savagery in “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
• An Allegory of Sigmund Freud’s Psychoanalysis Theory in William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies”
• A Literary Analysis of the Symbolism in “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
• A Comparison Between the Movie and Novel “Lord of the Flies”
• Abuse of Power and the Effect of Tyrannical Leadership Between “Lord of the Flies” and “The Chrysalids”
• Fear of the Unknown in “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
• A Comparison of “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding and “A Separate Peace” by John Knowles on Peer Pressure
• Internal and External Conflicts in “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
• Importance of the Extract in the Development of the Main Themes in “Lord of the Flies”
• Destructiveness of Jealousy Depicted in “Lord of the Flies” and “Woman Warrior”
• A Demonstration of the Influence and Power of People Over One Another Through the Character of Piggy in “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
• A Character of Piggy as the Character Who Most Deserved to Be Saved in “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
• The Role of Government in “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
• Moral Consequences in “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
• The Symbolism of Power in “Lord of the Flies”
• An Analysis of Human Behavior in “All Quiet on the Western Front” and “Lord of the Flies”
• Changes in the Conception of God in “Lord of the Flies”
• Inate Evil in “To Kill a Mocking Bird” and “Lord of the Flies”
• A Look at Disturbing Events Highlighted in William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies”
• Allegory of Social Dissolution “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
• Ralph as a Good Leader in “Lord of the Flies”
• An Analysis of Democratic and Authoritarian Power in “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
• Leaders and Leadership in “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
• Golding’s Pessimistic View on People and Society in His Book “Lord of the Flies”
• Analyzing the Themes of Innocence and Fear in William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies”
• A Description of the Occurrence of Civilization in “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
• Importance of the Beast in “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
• Golding’s “Lord of the Flies”: A Dream of a Deserted Island Into Reality
• Adventures, Conflicts, and Struggles in “Lord of the Flies”
• Good and Evil in Human Nature in “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
• Failure of Paradise in Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” and William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies”
• Immorality of Human Nature Depicted in Golding’s “Lord of the Flies”
• Formation of Rules and Perception of Civilisation in “Lord of the Flies”
• How Golding Presents the Decline From Civilisation to Savagery in “Lord of the Flies”?
• What Does Piggy Symbolize in “Lord of the Flies”?
• How Does the Second World War Reflect on “Lord of the Flies”?
• What Ideas About Human Nature and Behavior Golding Was Trying to Express in “Lord of the Flies”?
• What Does the Plane Crash Symbolize in “Lord of the Flies”?
• How Does William Golding Present the Character of Jack in “Lord of the Flies”?
• How Does Golding Express His Ideas About Leadership in “Lord of the Flies”?
• How Does Roger Change in “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding?
• How the Society Suppresses Evil in the Novel “Lord of the Flies”?
• How Does Golding Create a Setting in “Lord of the Flies”?
• How Does the Author Present Human Nature in “Lord of the Flies”?
• How Does William Golding Show Evil at Work in “Lord of the Flies”?
• How Anybody Could Regress Into Savagery in Golding’s “Lord of the Flies”?
• How Is the Author’s Characterisation and Language Attributed to the Novel of the “Lord of the Flies”?
• Why Did William Golding Name His Novel “Lord of the Flies”?
• How Does Golding Present Death in “Lord of the Flies”?
• How Does the Setting Affect the Story “Lord of the Flies”?
• How Children Are Treated in the Story of “Lord of the Flies”?
• How Does Golding Make the Physical World Seem Important in “Lord of the Flies”?
• What Is Ralph’s Attitude Toward Piggy in the First Chapter of “Lord of the Flies”?
• How Many Boys Are in “Lord of the Flies”?
• How Golding Creates Tension in “Lord of the Flies”?
• How Does the Opening Prepare the Reader for the Rest of the Novel “Lord of the Flies”?
• Why the Boys Were Doomed to Fail in “Lord of the Flies”?
• What Influenced William Golding to Write “Lord of the Flies”?
• Ways That Golding Presents the Island in “Lord of the Flies”?
• How Golding Uses Symbols in “Lord of the Flies”?
• How Does William Golding Use the Setting to Develop the Main Theme of His Novel “Lord of the Flies”?
• How Does Piggy’s Character Develop Through Golding’s “Lord of the Flies”?
• What Ruined Ralph and Jack’s Friendship in “Lord of the Flies”?
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116 Lord of the Flies Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Lord of the Flies, written by William Golding, is a classic novel that explores themes of civilization, human nature, and the darkness that lies within us all. It is a powerful and thought-provoking book that has captivated readers for decades. If you are tasked with writing an essay on Lord of the Flies, you may be struggling to come up with a topic. To help you get started, here are 116 Lord of the Flies essay topic ideas and examples that you can use as inspiration for your own writing:

• Analyze the symbolism of the conch shell in Lord of the Flies.
• Discuss the theme of civilization vs. savagery in the novel.
• Explore the character development of Ralph throughout the story.
• Compare and contrast the leadership styles of Ralph and Jack.
• Examine the role of fear in the novel.
• Discuss the significance of the beast in Lord of the Flies.
• Analyze the relationship between Piggy and Ralph.
• Explore the theme of power in the novel.
• Discuss the significance of the title Lord of the Flies.
• Examine the role of the littluns in the story.
• Compare and contrast the characters of Simon and Piggy.
• Discuss the symbolism of the fire in the novel.
• Explore the theme of violence in Lord of the Flies.
• Analyze the role of the naval officer at the end of the novel.
• Discuss the significance of the setting in Lord of the Flies.
• Examine the theme of isolation in the story.
• Compare and contrast the characters of Jack and Roger.
• Discuss the role of hunting in the novel.
• Analyze the symbolism of the glasses in Lord of the Flies.
• Explore the theme of loss of innocence in the story.
• Discuss the significance of the parachute man in the novel.
• Compare and contrast the characters of Sam and Eric.
• Analyze the role of the choir boys in the story.
• Discuss the theme of identity in Lord of the Flies.
• Explore the symbolism of the island in the novel.
• Analyze the theme of survival in the story.
• Discuss the significance of the signal fire in Lord of the Flies.
• Compare and contrast the characters of Maurice and Simon.
• Analyze the role of the conch in the novel.
• Discuss the theme of innocence in Lord of the Flies.
• Explore the symbolism of the beastie in the story.
• Analyze the role of the naval officer in the novel.
• Discuss the significance of the island in Lord of the Flies.
• Compare and contrast the characters of Percival and Johnny.
• Analyze the theme of authority in the story.
• Discuss the symbolism of the scar in Lord of the Flies.
• Explore the role of the littluns in the novel.
• Analyze the theme of fear in the story.
• Discuss the significance of the fire in Lord of the Flies.
• Compare and contrast the characters of Henry and Wilfred.
• Analyze the role of the parachute man in the novel.
• Discuss the theme of power in the story.
• Explore the symbolism of the glasses in Lord of the Flies.
• Analyze the theme of survival in the novel.
• Compare and contrast the characters of Robert and Bill.
• Analyze the role of the conch shell in the story.
• Discuss the theme of identity in the novel.
• Explore the symbolism of the island in Lord of the Flies.
• Analyze the theme of civilization vs. savagery in the story.
• Discuss the significance of the beastie in Lord of the Flies.
• Discuss the theme of fear in the story.
• Explore the significance of the title Lord of the Flies.
• Analyze the symbolism of the conch in the novel.
• Analyze the role of the parachute man in the story.
• Discuss the theme of authority in the novel.
• Explore the symbolism of the scar in Lord of the Flies.
• Analyze the role of the littluns in the story.
• Discuss the theme of power in the novel.
• Analyze the significance of the setting in Lord of the Flies.
• Discuss the theme of violence in the story.
• Explore the symbolism of the fire in the novel.
• Analyze the role of Jack in Lord of the Flies.
• Discuss the theme of isolation in the story.
• Analyze the role of the choir boys in the novel.
• Discuss the theme of loss of innocence in Lord of the Flies.
• Explore the symbolism of the glasses in the story.
• Analyze the role of Ralph in the novel.
• Discuss the theme of survival in Lord of the Flies.
• Analyze the role of Roger in the story.
• Analyze the role of Piggy in the story.
• Discuss the theme of fear in the novel.
• Compare and contrast the characters of Ralph and Jack.
• Analyze the role of the beast in Lord of the Flies.
• Analyze the symbolism of the conch shell in the novel.
• Analyze the role of the glasses in the story.
• Discuss the theme of violence in the novel.
• Explore the symbolism of the fire in Lord of the Flies.
• Analyze the role of the naval officer in the story.
• Analyze the role of the choir boys in Lord of the Flies.
• Discuss the theme of survival in the story.
• Explore the symbolism of the parachute man in the novel.
• Discuss the theme of civilization vs. savagery in Lord of the Flies.
• Analyze the role of the beastie in the novel.
• Discuss the theme of identity in the story.
• Explore the significance of the setting in Lord of the Flies.
• Analyze the symbolism of the scar in the novel.
• Discuss the theme of loss of innocence in the story.
• Analyze the role of the conch in Lord of the Flies.
• Explore the symbolism of the island in the story.
• Analyze the role of the signal fire in the novel.
• Discuss the theme of power in Lord of the Flies.

These are just a few ideas to get you started on your Lord of the Flies essay. Feel free to use them as inspiration or come up with your own unique topic. Remember to support your arguments with evidence from the text and to provide insightful analysis in your writing. Good luck!

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Lord of the Flies

46 pages • 1 hour read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

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Chapters 10-11

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Compare/contrast what happensin “normal” society with what happens on the island. Is the society that the boys make more similar or different than the society you know?

Why are there no girls on the island? Do you think that having both genders represented would alter how the boys treat one another?

Why does the “Lord of the Flies” (138)—the pig’s head—tell Simon he is in danger? How does this scene relate to the novel’s title?

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Lord of the Flies William Golding

Lord of the Flies essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Lord of the Flies by William Golding.

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Lord of the Flies Essays

Fear to gain control in dystopian literature anonymous college, lord of the flies.

A prominent feature of dystopian literature is the ability of certain individuals to capitalize on the fear of others in order to gain power. A novel that this is evident in is William Golding’s Lord of the Flies , in which we see how power is...

Two Faces of Man Anonymous

William Golding was inspired by his experiences in the Royal Navy during World War II when he wrote Lord of the Flies (Beetz 2514). Golding has said this about his book:

The theme is an attempt to trace the defeats of society back to the defects of...

The Relationship Between Symbolism and Theme in Lord of the Flies Anonymous

In real life, common objects that are used everyday are often taken for granted and even unusual sights, as well as ideas, are often unrecognized. However, this is seldom the case with similar objects and ideas that literary characters encounter....

A Tainted View of Society Crystal Epps

William Golding's Lord of the Flies is "An unfashionable aberration, a throwback to earlier, simpler forms of literature in which symbolic, fablelike elements predominate over psychological or social realism" (Magill 1126). Lord of the Flies, a...

Death and Social Collapse in Lord of the Flies Rebekah Bunting

Oscar Hammling has said, "We die ourselves every time we kill in others something that deserved to live." Man's relationship with death from the hour of his birth and his inherent concern for himself above others are themes often used in literary...

Lumination: The Conquest of Mankind's Darkness Anonymous

When freed from the moral manacles of society, humans must embrace moderate, disciplined lifestyles in order to avoid a fatal plunge into barbarism. In William Golding's Lord of the Flies, marooned schoolboys exchange the confines of civility for...

An Inborn Condemnation: Mankind's Potential for Evil Margaret Hsieh

Despite the progression of civilization and society's attempts to suppress man's darker side, moral depravity proves both indestructible and inescapable; contrary to culturally embraced views of humanistic tendencies towards goodness, each...

A Grim Ending Laura Lee

Lord of the Flies ends on a bleak note in order to emphasize the recurring theme throughout the novel: the idea that every human contains the beast within him/herself. By making the finale of the book so depressing, Golding illustrates the...

A Beacon in the Abyss Brad Champion

A Beacon in the Abyss

The voice of reason in this modern morality play, the physically flawed, socially inept Piggy serves as a confidant in The Lord of the Flies, providing Ralph with a balancing presence while embodying the principles of...

Corruption vs. Civilization in Lord of the Flies Anonymous

William Golding's The Lord of the Flies is not simply a book about outward conflict between individuals. It is, rather, a novel about one's inner being. When the formerly-civilized British boys of Golding's novel are stranded on a desert island...

Piggy: Brains, Wisdom, and the Human Spirit Anonymous

In the introduction to William Golding’s novel Lord of the Flies, E.M Forster describes Piggy as not only “the brains of the party” but also “the wisdom of the heart” and “the human spirit.” This description of Piggy becomes more accurate as the...

Lord of the Flies - 'The Darkness of Man's Heart' Jennifer Liu 10th Grade

Lord of the Flies delves into the subject of ‘the darkness of man’s heart’. It explores the primitivism and savagery that comes with the human nature through the various characters and language choices. William Golding uses the concept of ‘fear of...

Savagery versus Civilisation: Representations of Power in Lord of the Flies Leon Frank-Rath 10th Grade

Golding’s exploration of the human condition continues to be read, year after year, because it challenges the reader to consider notions that are fundamental to the human condition. Through a simple premise, Golding creates an environment in which...

Natural Evil in Lord of the Flies Holly McKinney 12th Grade

In his work "Essay Concerning Human Understanding," John Locke explains his belief that the human mind is what he called a "tabula rasa," which is Latin for "clean sheet of paper." It assumes that infants know nothing when they are born and human...

Killer Savagery in "Lord of the Flies" Anonymous 10th Grade

Civilization, at its core, was created to suppress barbaric instinct. However, in extreme circumstances, it is possible for instinct to prevail over civility. William Golding’s timeless Lord of the Flies is a prime example of instinct overpowering...

Golding & Nietzsche: Compared and Contrasted Anonymous 11th Grade

Friedrich Nietzsche, a German philosopher, and William Golding, an English author, lived and died in two seemingly separate worlds. They came from different time periods, places of origin, and had perceptions of humanity that draw no mass...

Panopticon in Lord of the Flies Drexel Feeling 10th Grade

The Panopticon theory. Imagine there is a prison with no bars, no chains, no guards patrolling around, but there is a watchtower which can see into every cell. It has one-way glass so no one can see in, and only zigzag pathways to walk through....

Non vi, sed verbo (Not by force, but by the word) Chelsea Santos 10th Grade

Sylvia Plath, a confessional poet, once said, “I talk to God but the sky is empty,” (Plath 199). When one talks to God, they know He is there, but they do not see Him. They ask for help and expect it right away, which leads to conflict. Plath is...

Natural Settings in "Lord of the Flies" Serena Siciliano 10th Grade

Natural occurrences are often portrayed in literature as accurate reflections of mankind’s actions. In William Golding’s Lord of the Flies , the weather patterns frequently correspond to the happenings on the island. Upon the arrival of the...

How does Golding make Jack such a frightening figure in the novel? Amy Allison 10th Grade

In his novel, ‘Lord of the Flies’, Golding highlights Jack and one of the story’s pivotal characters. Whilst it may originally appear that Jack is just one of the many confused boys on the island, Golding quickly sets Jack aside from the other...

The Symbolic Importance of the Killing of the Sow Amy Allison 10th Grade

In the novel, ‘Lord of the Flies’, the killing of the sow is a pivotal moment whereby the boys reach a point of no return; they have lost themselves completely and are now so immersed in savagery that there is no turning back. Golding emphasises...

The Littluns: Analysis of "Lord of the Flies" Jimmy Jay Chassi 10th Grade

What do you think of when someone says “children?" Sweet, innocent, and naive are just some of the adjectives that today’s society has placed on the common image of society's own youngest members. Yet in Lord of the Flies by William Golding, the...

Ralph: Was He a Good Leader? Anonymous 8th Grade

As First Lady Rosalynn Carter once said, “A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be,” applies to many leaders and one of them is Ralph. In Lord of the Flies by...

The Symbolic Use of Color in Lord of the Flies Anonymous 10th Grade

In Sir William Golding’s Lord of the Flies , the symbolic use of color conveys the innocence and the evil on the island, as well as each of the boys' personalities. The contrasting light and dark colors in the book symbolize the goodness and evil,...

Lord of the Flies

William golding, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

Human Nature

William Golding once said that in writing Lord of the Flies he aimed to trace society's flaws back to their source in human nature. By leaving a group of English schoolboys to fend for themselves on a remote jungle island, Golding creates a kind of human nature laboratory in order to examine what happens when the constraints of civilization vanish and raw human nature takes over. In Lord of the Flies , Golding argues that…

Civilization

Although Golding argues that people are fundamentally savage, drawn toward pleasure and violence, human beings have successfully managed to create thriving civilizations for thousands of years. So that disproves Golding's theory about human nature being savage, right? Wrong. The famous psychologist Sigmund Freud argued that without the innate human capacity to repress desire, civilization would not exist. In Lord of the Flies , Golding makes a similar argument. He depicts civilization as a veil that…

Savagery and the "Beast"

The " beast " is a symbol Golding uses to represent the savage impulses lying deep within every human being. Civilization exists to suppress the beast. By keeping the natural human desire for power and violence to a minimum, civilization forces people to act responsibly and rationally, as boys like Piggy and Ralph do in Lord in the Flies . Savagery arises when civilization stops suppressing the beast: it's the beast unleashed. Savages not only…

Spirituality and Religion

Most of the boys on the island either hide behind civilization, denying the beast's existence, or succumb to the beast 's power by embracing savagery. But in Lord of the Flies , Golding presents an alternative to civilized suppression and beastly savagery. This is a life of religion and spiritual truth-seeking, in which men look into their own hearts, accept that there is a beast within, and face it squarely.

Simon occupies this role in…

The Weak and the Strong

Within the larger battle of civilization and savagery ravaging the boys's community on the island, Lord of the Flies also depicts in great detail the relationships and power dynamics between the boys. In particular, the novel shows how boys fight to belong and be respected by the other boys. The main way in which the boys seek this belonging and respect is to appear strong and powerful. And in order to appear strong and powerful…

Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Lord of The Flies — Lord of the Flies’: Civilization vs Savagery as the Main Theme

Lord of The Flies': Civilization Vs Savagery as The Main Theme

• Categories: Lord of The Flies William Golding

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Words: 1849 |

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Published: Aug 14, 2023

Words: 1849 | Pages: 4 | 10 min read

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Introduction, civilization vs savagery in the lord of the flies.

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Related Essays on Lord of The Flies

Novel Lord of the Flies explores the theme of power and its manifestations in a group of boys stranded on a deserted island. Throughout the novel, different characters vie for power in various ways, leading to a breakdown in [...]

In William Golding's novel "Lord of the Flies," the concept of a microcosm is elegantly explored through the experiences of a group of young boys stranded on a deserted island. This microcosm serves as a mirror that reflects the [...]

In William Golding's novel "Lord of the Flies," a group of young boys are stranded on an island without any adult supervision. The boys must fend for themselves and figure out how to survive in this new environment. As the story [...]

William Golding's novel Lord of the Flies is a literary masterpiece that delves into the psyche of human beings and the horrors of society. One of the significant features of this novel is the presence of the littluns, who are [...]

In William Golding’s novel Lord of the Flies, the conch shell is a powerful symbol that represents order, civilization, and the rule of law. Throughout the story, the conch shell is used to call assemblies and establish rules [...]

William Golding’s 1954 novel, “Lord Of The Flies”, conveys the unimaginable journey that a collection of vulnerable British schoolboys experience. After being neglected on a deserted island are left to establish their own [...]

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Themes and Analysis

Lord of the flies, by william golding.

Lord of the Flies by William Golding is a powerful novel. It's filled with interesting themes, thoughtful symbols, and a particular style of writing that has made it a classic of British literature.

Article written by Lee-James Bovey

P.G.C.E degree.

Several key themes are prevalent throughout the book. It is sometimes referred to as a “book of ideas” and these ideas are explored as the plot unfolds.

Lord of the Flies Themes

The impact of humankind on nature.

This is evident from the first chapter when the plane crashing leaves what Golding describes as a “scar” across the island. This idea is explored further in the early chapters the boys light a fire that escapes their control and yet further diminishes what might be considered an unspoiled island. Some interpret the island almost as a Garden of Eden with the children giving in to temptation by slaughtering the animals there. The final chapter furthers the destruction of nature by mankind as the whole island appears to have been ruined thanks to the effects of the boy’s presence on the island.

Civilization versus savagery

This can be seen throughout as the boys struggle with being removed from organized society. To begin with, they cope well. They construct a form of government represented by the conch that theoretically draws them together and gives them all a voice. As they break away from society this adherence to the rules they have constructed is evident. Golding’s ideas of what savagery is might be outdated and rooted in colonial stereotypes but they are evident for all to see as the boys use masks to dehumanize themselves and their increasing obsession with hunting leads to an increasingly animalistic nature.

Nature of humanity

Perhaps the biggest underlying theme is the idea of the true nature of mankind. Golding explores the idea that mankind is innately evil and that it is only the contrast between society and civilization that prevents that nature from being prevalent. Of course, this overlooks that civilization is a human construct and if all men’s biggest motivation were their inner evil, then that construct would never have existed. Golding’s views largely spring from his role in the navy where he was witness to the atrocities of war but are also informed by his work as a teacher.

Analysis of Key Moments in Lord of the Flies

There are many key moments in ‘ Lord of the Flies ‘ that highlight the boy’s descent into savagery.

• Blowing the conch – this introduces us to the conch which acts as a symbol of society and civilization throughout the novel. It is both the device that brings the children together and in theory the object which allows them all to have a say and therefore run a democratic society.
• The fire gets out of control – This shows the effects that the boys are already having on the island. It also demonstrates how lost the boys are without adults there to guide them as they lose one of the boys and nobody even knows his name.
• Jack fails to kill the pig/Roger throws stones – both of these events show how the boys are currently constrained by the expectations of society. We see as time passes these restraints are lifted and that firstly, Jack can kill a pig and finally, and perhaps more dramatically, Roger is not only okay with hitting somebody with a stone but taking their life with one.
• The hunters put on masks – By covering up their faces, they seem to become free from the constraints of society. It is if it liberates them from humanity and allows them to act on more primal, animalistic urges.
• Sam and Eric find “the beast” – When Sam and Eric feel they have discovered the beast it sets a ripple of panic throughout. This fear sways the boys towards Jack’s leadership as he continues to manipulate the situation to his advantage. If not for this then Simon might never be murdered.
• Creating of the Lord of the Flies – Successfully killing the pig is itself an iconic moment but then leaving a pigs head on a pole is both a gruesome image (one worthy of the book’s title) and also plays a pivotal role in Simon’s story arc.
• Simon’s death – Simon is the one character who never seems to succumb to primal urges and therefore his death if looked at symbolically could be seen as the death of hope for boys.
• Piggy’s death – Piggy’s character represents order and reason. With his death, any chance of resolving the issues between Jack and Ralph vanishes. The conch being smashed at the same time is also symbolic and represents the complete destruction of society.
• The rescue – This is not the happy ending that one might expect with all the boys crying due to their loss of innocence. There is an irony as well as the boys will not be rescued and taken to a Utopia but rather to a civilization plagued by a war that mirrors the war zone they have just left.

Style, Literary Devices, and Tone in Lord of the Flies

Throughout this novel, Golding’s style is straightforward and easy to read. There are no lengthy passages nor does he choose particularly poetic words to describe the events. His writing is powerful without these stylistic devices. The same can be said for his use of literary devices. When used, they are direct. For example, the use of symbolism (see below) and metaphor is very thoughtful but not hard to interpret.

William Golding also employs an aloof or distant tone throughout the book. This reflects the way that the boys treat one another.

Symbols in Lord of the Flies

The conch shell.

The conch shell is one of the major symbols of this novel. It’s used from the beginning of the novel to call the boys together for meetings on the beach. It’s a symbol of civilization and government. But, as the boys lose touch with their civilized sides, the conch shell is discarded.

The Signal Fire

The signal fire is a very important symbol in the novel. It’s first lit on the mountain and then later on the beach with the intent of attracting the attention of passion ships. The fire is maintained diligently at first but as the book progresses and the boys slip farther from civilization, their concentration on the fire wanes. They eventually lose their desire to be rescued. Therefore, as one is making their way through the book, gauging the boys’ concentration on the fire is a great way to understand how “civilized” they are.

The beast is an imaginary creature who frightens the boys. It stands in for their savage instincts and is eventually revealed to be a personification of their dark impulses. It’s only through the boy’s behaviour that the beast exists at all.

What are three themes in Lord of the Flies ?

Three themes in ‘ Lord of the Flies ‘ are civilization vs. savagery, the impact of humankind on nature, and the nature of humanity.

What is the main message of the Lord of the Flies ?

The main message is that if left without rules, society devolves and loses its grasp on what is the morally right thing to do. this is even the case with kids.

How does Ralph lose his innocence in Lord of the Flies ?

He loses his innocence when he witnesses the deaths of Simon and Piggy. These losses in addition to the broader darkness of the island change him.

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About Lee-James Bovey

Lee-James, a.k.a. LJ, has been a Book Analysis team member since it was first created. During the day, he's an English Teacher. During the night, he provides in-depth analysis and summary of books.

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Home / Essay Samples / Literature / Books / Lord of The Flies

Lord of the Flies Essay Examples

Concept of savagery vs civilisation: what does the conch symbolize in lord of the flies.

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Loss of Innocence in "Lord of the Flies": an Analysis

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