Ashleigh Beckner

05/03/2014
AP English 12

Lord of the Flies and The Destructors; Loss of Innocence Essay Final Draft
William Goldings Lord of the Flies and Graham Greenes The Destructors were both
written during the time period of World War II. Both pieces are famously known for their view
on the effect World War II had on the people directly and indirectly involved. Mutually, the
authors use their fictional stories and characters to demonstrate how the loss of innocence is a
necessary and unchangeable part of human development. Through the loss of the characters
innocence, the creators of these stories are able to illustrate the innate evil and savagery that lies
within us all, surfacing as we grow older, losing our childlike qualities.
Many believe that savagery is always, and will always be, a part of mankind, but a proper
situation must reveal itself in order for it to adapt to even the most innocent of children. Through
Goldings view of humanity in The Lord of the Flies, the reader can see numerous examples
where the boys lose their innocence, especially pertaining to hunting. In the beginning of the
novel, Ralph doesnt understand why the other boys would give into their basic instincts of
blood, lust and barbarianism. As the novel progresses he comes to realize that savagery exists
within all the boys, nonetheless, he is determined to not let it over take him. However, when
Ralph hunts the boar for the first time, later in the novel, he is swept into a wild frenzy as he
experiences the thrill of the chase, exhilaration of blood, lust and violence just as the other boys
have. The reader can also see the loss of innocence of Jack through the hunting and killing of a
mother sow and piglets. Early in the novel Jack hesitates at the thought of killing a piglet, much
less actually executing the vicious act. Yet, in chapter eight, Jack savagely kills a mother sow,
without any hesitation, and looks upon his bloody hands in a giggling amusement. In the

beginning, both boys struggle with whether or not it is ethical to hunt and kill the animals on the
island, but when the situation presents itself both boys let their savage nature overtake them,
which results in the loss of innocence within them.
One sign of the boys losing their innocence is when they paint their faces. With the paint
on, they no longer have names or identities of their own. They become nameless creatures that
kill and murder without consequence. Without a "self" to control, there's no need to control
themselves. The face paint becomes an act of liberation, leaving the kids to feel like they can do
as they please without having any remorse, regret, shame or guilt for their atrocious actions.
Because of the face paint, the boys are able to brutally kill the mother sow and attempt to
brutally kill Ralph the same way. When the boys paint their faces, they are completely freed from
civilized behavior, regressing into total barbarism which leads to the loss of their innocence.
Upon their initial arrival on the island in Lord of the Flies, the boys seem to be wellbehaved, orderly children longing for rescues, but as the novel progresses the reader can see the
gradual loss of innocence in all the children until it is completely lost in chapter nine. Simons
death, in chapter nine, represents the final incident that results in the entire loss of the boys
innocence. At the beginning of the novel, the, what seemed to be, guileless boys couldnt have
possibly been capable of such a horrific murder. As the boys circle Simon, chanting Kill the
beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood! Simon pleaded and begged for his life. The boys
continued their relentless proceedings until they beat Simon to death. At this stage in the novel,
the complete loss of innocence in the boys is obvious as they believe that their murdering of

Simon was the final straw which ended the democracy and order that they so hopelessly
longed to live by. Without their loss of innocence, the boys wouldnt have had such an openness
to the innate evil and savagery that has always existed within them, which ironically, leads to
their rescue.
In The Destructors, which is set shortly after World War II, all the boys are greatly
affected by the war but especially T, otherwise known as Trevor. As a result of the war, his
father is terminated from his job and is forced to take a much lesser job of a typist. In turn, his
family loses their high status in society. For Trevor the war destroys everything, including his
previously perfect life. He sees and experiences events that no young child should, which leads
to the loss of his innocence. With the destruction of war in the back of his mind, Trevor sees Mr.
Thomas house and feels the urge to destroy it, just like his life has been destroyed. Once Trevor
makes the decision to destroy Mr. Thomas house in its entirety, the reader sees the absolute
transition of Trevor from a harmless child, to a malicious boy. The war destroys Trevors life and
everything he loves, driving his motivation to do the same to Mr. Thomas. If he couldnt live the
picture-perfect life, no one could.
All the boys in Trevors gang lose their innocence by partaking in the destruction of
Mr. Thomas house. Initially, Blackie, one of the boys and the original leader of the gang,
proposes relatively petty and childlike shenanigans for his group to accomplish, showing his
present innocence. However, later, Blackie loses his innocence by being fully supportive of
Trevors ruthless plan to destroy Mr. Thomas house. Next, the youngest character, Mike is seen
as losing his innocence. Prior to the destruction of the home, Mike says he has to attend church

showing innocence and purity. Everyone works together collectively to leave the house in
shambles, even Mike. The reader sees Mike lose his innocence when he cuts all the electrical
switches in the house. Mike, as a naive child, gives his innocence to the boys. By following their
gang both Blackie and Mike lose their innocence, committing a crime and destroying a
harmless and innocent persons life.
In both Lord of the Flies and The Destructors each of the kids begin to lose the
qualities that make them children, while taking on more adult ideas, causing them to lose their
innocence. Both authors present the theme of the loss of innocence as being a necessary and
unchangeable part of human development through their young and innocent minded characters
which are put in circumstances and the conditions that have a huge impact on their minds and
lives. These circumstances and conditions bring out the inborn malevolence that is a part of
everyone once they lose their childlike innocence.