BOOK REVIEW

“LORD OF THE FLIES” BY: WILLIAM GOLDING

BACKGROUND OF THE BOOK:

“Lord of the Flies” is a novel by British author William Golding, published in 1954. Influenced
by his experiences in the Royal Navy during World War II, Golding created a story that explores
the dark side of human nature. Set against the backdrop of a fictional war, the book follows a
group of English schoolboys stranded on an uninhabited island. The novel, initially not well-
received, eventually gained recognition for its insightful examination of how societal structures
constrain human savagery. Today, it’s considered a classic piece of literature, studied for its
profound insights into human nature and society.

SUMMARY OF THE BOOK:

The story begins with a group of boys, ranging in age from six to twelve, who are marooned on a
tropical island after their plane crashes. The boys, led by Ralph, elect him as their leader and
establish rules and order. They use a conch shell to call assemblies and maintain order in their
new society. Initially, the boys work together to build a shelter, gather food, and maintain a signal
fire in the hope of being rescued. However, tensions arise between Ralph and Jack, who desire
power and control. Jack forms his own group of hunters and becomes increasingly obsessed with
hunting and violence. As time passes, the boys’ civilized behavior begins to deteriorate. They
become more savage and indulge in their primal instincts. They paint their faces, perform
ritualistic dances, and even engage in the killing of animals. The boys’ fear of a mythical beast
on the island further fuels their descent into savagery. Simon, a gentle and insightful boy,
discovers that the beast they fear is a dead parachutist. However, when he tries to share this
information with the others, they mistake him for the beast and brutally murder him. The
situation on the island continues to deteriorate as Jack’s group becomes more dominant and
Ralph’s authority is challenged. Eventually, the boys’ society collapse completely, and they
engage in a violent hunt for Ralph, who is now a fugitive. In the final moments of the novel, a
naval officer arrives on the island, rescuing the boys from their savage state. As they are
confronted by the reality of their actions, they break down and weep. “Lord of the Flies”, serves
as a powerful allegory for the inherent darkness within human nature and the fragility of
civilization in the face of chaos.

DETAILS OF THE AUTHOR:

William Golding, the author of “Lord of the Flies”, was a British novelist born on September 19,
19111, in St. Columb Minor, Cornwall, England. He studied English literature at Oxford
University and later worked as a schoolteacher, which influenced his understanding of human
nature and the themes explored in his writing. Golding gained critical acclaim for his novel
“Lord of the Flies”, published in 1954. The book explores the dark fragility of civilization when
societal norms are stripped away. It delves into themes of power, civilization, and the inherent
savagery that can exist within humanity. In recognition of his literary contributions, Golding was
awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1983. His works continue to be studied and analyzed for
their profound insights into human behavior condition.

TYPE OF GENRE OF THE BOOK:

“Lord of the Flies” is primarily classified as a dystopian novel or a psychological allegory. It

explores themes of human nature, civilization, and the inherent darkness that can emerge in
individuals when societal structures break down.

DETAILED ANALYSIS:

CHAPTER 1: “THE SOUND OF THE SHELL”

The story begins wit a group of English schoolboys who find themselves stranded on a deserted
island after their plane crashes. Ralph, a fair-haired boy, discovers a conch shell on the beach. He
blows into it, producing a loud sound that attracts the attention of the boys scattered across the
island. The boys gather around Ralph, and he becomes the facto leader as they elect him as their
chief. Ralph establishes order by implementing rules and assigning tasks to the boys. He
emphasizes the importance of building shelters, maintaining a signal fire, and creating a system
for rescue. Piggy, a chubby and asthmatic boy who becomes Ralph’s closest ally. Piggy is
intelligent and provides Ralph with logical advice. As the boys begin to explore the island, they
discover that they are completely isolated from the outside world. They also encounter signs of
wild pigs and realize that they will need to hunt for food.

CHAPTER 2: “FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN”

The boys make the first attempt at creating a signal fire. Ralph suggests thar they build a large
fire on top of the island ‘s central mountain, hoping that any passing ships might see the fire and
realize someone is stranded on the island. The boys run off to gather wood and bring it to the
mountain top. They use Piggy’s glasses to light the fire. However, their lack of experience and
control leads to the fire quickly spreading out of control, consuming a large portion of the forest.
Jack offers to keep the fire going, organizing his group of hunters to work in rotation. However,
Piggy criticizes the other boys, stating that they are acting like a bunch of kids, showing his
frustration at their lack of discipline and foresight.

CHAPTER 3: “HUTS ON THE BEACH”

Jack becomes increasingly obsessed with hunting. He stalks through the jungle, sharpening a
stick, and tracking a pig. However, his hunting attempts remain unsuccessful. Meanwhile, Ralph
and Simon are trying to build huts on the beach. Ralph is frustrated because the huts keep falling
apart before they’re completed, and none of the boys, except Simon, are helping him. Ralph
attempts to build shelters signify his sense of responsibility and his efforts to maintain some
semblance of civilization.

CHAPTER 4: “PAINTED FACES AND LONG HAIR”

The boys become accustomed to their daily routines and the rhythms of tropical life. However,
they struggle to adjust to the strange phenomena that occur, such as the rising sea and flickering
images at midday. The younger boys on the island, who are engaged in play on the beach. Their
play is disrupted by Roger and Maurice, who destroy their sandcastles. This act of destruction
foreshadows the increasing aggression and cruelty among the boys. Jack, driven by his desire for
power and dominance, paints his face with clay and charcoal, adapting to a more savage
appearance. He leads the hunters on a hunting expedition, further distancing himself from
Ralph’s leadership. Ralph, observing a ship’s smoke on the horizon, realizes that the signal fire
has gone out. The loss of the fire symbolizes the diminishing hope of rescue and the boys’
descent into savagery.

CHAPTER 5: “BEAST FROM WATER”

Ralph, feeling frustrated and impotent, walks along the beach to find a place to think. He
becomes increasingly aware of his own physical appearance, with his hair growing long and
unkempt. During an assembly, Ralph addresses the boys and emphasizes the importance of
maintaining the signal fire. However, the discussion turns to the existence of a beast on the
island, which some of the boys believe to be real. A little boy named Phil claims to have seen the
beast in the forest, while Simon suggests that the boy might have mistaken him for the beast
since he had been walking in the forest at night. As fear and paranoia spread among the boys, the
divisions between Ralph and Jack, fueled by his desire for power, undermines Ralph’s authority
and promises to protect the boys from the beast by providing them with meat.

CHAPTER 6: “BEAST FROM AIR”

Late at night, Ralph and Simon carry a littlun black to the shelter before going to sleep. As the
boy sleeps, a fierce aerial battle takes place above the island. The boys are unaware of the battle
until a dead parachutist for the beast. They rush back to the group, terrified, and describe their
encounter which the beast. Jack, capitalizing on the fear and chaos, suggests that they hunt down
the beast. He undermines Ralph’s leadership and=d ridicules the importance of the conch shell.

CHATPER 7: “SHADOWS AND TALL TREES”

The boys continue their journey across the island, facing new challenges and experiencing
further deterioration in their behavior. As the boy travel towards the mountain, they stop to eat.
Ralph, observing his own appearance, realizes how dirty and uncivilized they have become. He
becomes disheartened by their slovenly and undisciplined state. Ralph gazes out at the choppy
ocean, feeling a sense of hopelessness ang longing for the order and civilization they lost. Simon
tries to reassure Ralph that they will get home safely, providing a glimmer of optimism amidst
the growing darkness. Meanwhile, Jack discovers the tracks of a wild boar, sparking excitement
among the boys. They create a ritual dance to celebrate the upcoming hunt, further blurring the
lines between their civilized selves and their emerging savage instincts.

CHAPTER 8: “GIFT FOR THE DARKNESS

The chapter begins with the boys gathered on the beach, discussing the existence of the “beast’
and its potential threat. Piggy, who was not present during the sighting of the supposed monster,
is skeptical and questions the boys’ claims. Jack, capitalizing on the fear and chaos, manipulates
the situation to undermine Ralph’s leadership. He accuses Ralph of being a coward and suggests
that the boys should remove him from his position as chief. Ralph tries to maintain order and
reason, suggesting that the boys need to focus on keeping the signal fire going. However, Jack’s
influence grows stronger as he promises protection from the beast and offers the boys the
excitement of hunting.

CHAPTER 9: “A VIEW TO A DEATH”

The chapter begins with Simon awakening to find the air dark and humid, signaling an
approaching storm. He notices that this his nose is bleeding and, in a dazed state, makes his way
towards the mountain. As he climbs, he sees the dead pilot with his parachute flapping in the
wind. Simon realizes that the boys’ belief in the beast was a result of their misinterpretation of
the dead parachutist. He untangles the cords holding the parachutist in place, intending to share
this information with the others. However, as Simon descends the mountain and approaches the
boys, who are engaged in a frenzied, ritualistic dance, they mistake him for the beast. Caught up
in their madness and frenzy, they attack Simon with Violent malice, ultimately leading to his
tragic death.

CHAPTER 10: “THE SHELL AND THE GLASSES”

At Castle Rock, Jack asserts his absolute power and rules over the boys. He punishes them
without apparent reason, exemplified by his tying up and beating a boy named Wilfred. Jack
warns the boys about Ralph and his small group, portraying them as a threat to the tribe.
Meanwhile on the other side of the island Ralph and Piggy meet on the beach. Exhausted,
injured, and disturbed by the previous night’s events, they discuss Simon’s death. Piggy reminds
Ralph that he is still the chief, or at least the chief over those who are still with them. That night,
Jack and his hunters launch an attack while everyone is asleep. Chaos arises as Ralph and Eric
engage in a physical altercation, and Piggy protects the conch shell. Jack seizes the opportunity
to steal Piggy’s glasses, which have become a symbol of power and knowledge.

CHAPTER 11: “CASTLE ROCK”

Ralph, Piggy, and Samneric, the only remaining members of Ralph’s group, gather around the
remains of the signal fire on the beach. They attempt to rekindle the fire, but without Piggy’s
glasses, it proves impossible. Realizing that their only option is to confront Jack and his
followers, Ralph decides to take the conch shell to Castle Rock. He hopes that the sight of conch
will remind Jack’s followers of his former authority and reason. Upon reaching Jack’s camp,
Ralph’s group encounters armed guards. Despite their peaceful intentions, tensions quickly
escalated. A scuffle breaks out between the two groups, and in a tragic turn of events, Roger
leans on a lever that catapults a heavy rock towards Piggy. The falling rock kills Piggy and
destroys the conch shell, symbolizing the complete breakdown of order and civilization.

CHAPTER 12: “CRY OF THE HUNTERS”

Ralph, wounded and alone, hides in the jungle, reflecting on the inhuman violence that has
consumed the boys on the island. He realizes that any hope for civilization among the boys is
now impossible. He thinks about the deaths of Simon and Piggy, recognizing the tragic loss of
reason and morality. Meanwhile, the other boys, led by Jack, have fully embraced their savage
instincts. They feast and celebrate inside Castle Rock, reveling in their newfound powder and
dominance. The boundaries between hunting and killing humans have blurred, and they have
become a dangerous and bloodthirsty tribe. Ralph, determined to confront Jack and his followers,
makes his way back to the platforms. He is reluctant to spend the night alone and decides to
return to Jack’s end of the island to reason with them once more. The chapter ends with Ralph’s
desperate plea for reason and civilization amidst the chaos and violence. This chapter serves as a
culmination of the themes of the novel, highlighting the destructive power of unchecked
savagery and the loss of civilization. It explores the inherent darkness within human nature and
the consequences of abandoning reason and morality.

RECOMMENDATION:

The importance of maintaining a balance between civilization and primal instincts. As the boys’
society unravels, we see how the absence of rules and authority leads to violence and destruction.
Another takeaway is the examination of leadership and its impact on group dynamics styles of
Ralph and Jack highlight the different facets of human nature and the consequences of
unchecked power.