Lauren Jung

Lord of the Flies Analysis Essay (Passage 4)

McGee/Romano
Period 5

Is human nature always just, or do our desires twist society into something
malevolent? It is evident that everyone has a different stance concerning values and
needs. For instance one person may value a strong sense of power, but he may lack
the significance of responsibility within a group. William Goldings Lord of the Flies
demonstrates how mans desire to hunt cannot only control and overpower him, but it
can also disrupt the wellbeing and stability of a society.
Golding includes this brutal game participated by the boys as a way to expand
upon the boys characters by highlighting their inevitable growing bloodlust and
savagery. When Robert first mocks the pig he screams jokingly in mock terror, but as
the circle progresses and moves inward towards Robert the boys seriously injure him by
holding him down and violently abusing him as if he was actually a wild animal. Nobody
listens to Robert when he tells them to stop, which gives us the idea of insanity and
chaos the boys are lost and immerged in. It is valid that Jack is the leader of this savage
tribe, especially when he instructs the dance and initiates the ring. Towards the climax
the dance turns into a ritual, almost like hunting is a part of the boys religion. After the
boys chant, Kill the pig! Cut his throat! Kill the pig! Bash him in, Ralph tries to get
closer to the vulnerable flesh because the strength of his desire to hunt and hurt is
manipulating him. The fact that Ralph even participates in this hunt and jabs Robert
with Erics spear proves that there is always a dark side within someone; he just has to
feel the excitement and lose control. The dance ends when Jacks arm comes down
and the tribe cheers with pig-dying noises. The moment of quietness after the hunt

was brief, and Robert attempts to hide his pain by banterin and complaining about his
bum. After this, Jack declares that it was a good game and Ralph realizes that the
game was very violent, yet Jack is still unaware of the damage his tribe has left. Jackm
a symbol of mans instinct for savagery and the need for power, is characterized as a
selfish boy who does not care about others when he jokes about using a littlun for the
game. When the rest of the tribe laughs at his cruel and dark comment, it demonstrates
the boys lack of maturity and also points out the devil within man.
The theme that human nature can become twisted and peoples dark sides can
overpower them is further expressed in other scenes throughout Lord of the Flies. As
previously mentioned, the boys lose control once the craving for blood is unleashed
during the tribes ritual. In a later tribal dance, the boys kill Simon, a symbol of natural
human goodness, because they were blinded by their thirst for flesh and power. It can
be argued that this vent was an accident since it was becoming dark and stormy- but
the boys fear is a major contributing factor. Unfortunately Ralph adds to the boys fear
by telling them that they do not have shelters and has a power struggle with Jack. Only
thinking about how power can benefit oneself, they both forget about the need and
importance of a civilization and the idea of power with responsibility. Once again, Jack
ignites the dance and the boys rip apart what they believe is the beast, but is actually
Simon. In contrast to Robert, Simon was not playing along with the boys; he just wanted
to inform them about the dead parachutist on the hill. These hunts are a symbol of the
worst aspects of human nature and distract the boys from what they really need- fire
and the chance of being rescued. As ironic as it is, when Jack smokes out the island as
a way to capture Ralph with the hopes of killing him, a naval officer spots the boys and

rescues them from the boys internal war on the island and brings them back to the
actual war the outside world is experiencing.
Lord of the Flies by William Golding explores the concept of how ones desires
can distort human nature. First, the heartless game participated by the boys
demonstrates how strong a force like desire is, and how easy it is to become absorbed
into chaos. Next, desire blinded the boys and they ended up committing manslaughter
to one of the most innocent boys on the island. It is arguable that human nature has a
dark side, and that aspects of greed and violence is detrimental within a civilization.