Lord of the Flies Theme Essay Example
Lord of the Flies Theme Essay Example

Lord of the Flies Theme Essay Example

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  • Pages: 3 (583 words)
  • Published: February 15, 2018
  • Type: Essay
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William Gilding's main character Ralph is a perfect embodiment of the theme, that society places a certain set of rules in order to maintain order among the people. Right from the start of the story Ralph had this set instinct that a leader must be selected to help "rule" the boys, although everyone agreed he made a setting where everyone was treated fairly.

Ralph says, Seems to me we ought to have a chief to decide things. " (Gilding 22). Even though Jake seems to think he deserves to be chief, Ralph is elected and soon begins to give the children of the island his rules.

Gilding writes, "And another thing. We can't have everybody talking at once.

We'll have to have hands up like at school.... Then I'll give him the conch. (Gilding 33).

...

The fact that Ralph begins adopting casual everyday rules from back home goes to show how close he believe they should stay connected to society, he doesn't want them to lose their ties to humanity. In The Lord of the Flies, Jack Murdered is the head boy as well as the main causes of the struggles Ralph is made to face.

Jack constantly shows Jealousy of Ralph popularity among the other boys and his ability to become leader through merely holding the conch. Gilding uses Jack as a way to expose the opposing side that a thriving society contains, he's more amused with having fun and fooling around then roaring about irresponsibleness. Gilding writes, "So long as you and your hunters remember the fire" and your fire! " (53).

Jack begins to shake off his duty to keep the

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fire going, even though that will directly get them saved from the island.

Ralph says, where was a ship. Out there. You said you'd keep the fire going and you let it out! M (Gilding 70). Instead he goes fifth his hunters and makes a game out of savagely killing the pig, promoting violence among the little ones. William Gilding writes Piggy as an exemplary model of what a fully functioning society needs to thrive.

On more than one occasion in the book Piggy has been the en to come up with a rational understanding of what is going on and his opinions were Just pushed to the side.

Piggy says, '"That little 'UN- him with the mark on his face, I don't see him. Where is he now? " "The crowd was as silent as death. " (Gilding 46). Piggy is the only one who notices that the little 'UN is missing, making Ralph and the others feel awful for their Irresponsibility with the fire. Piggy also Is discriminated Gilding writes, " Piggy began again.

Didn't ought to have let that fire out. You said you'd keep the smoke going-m "This from Piggy, and the wails of agreement from mom of the hunters, drove Jack to violence. " (Gilding 71).

Jack ends up striking Piggy in a rage, symbolizing his rebellion to the rules of Ralph society. Throughout The Lord of the Flies William Gilding does an amazing Job of carrying the overall same theme, that society is nothing without a system of formed rules for guidance.

The characters in the book are the prime examples of the conflicts of a community in a

day to day form, whether it be the struggle to compromise and make a decision that benefits the majority or the choices to do what needs to be done instead of what is fun to do.

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