Entrance
Published in 1954, William Golding's Lord of the Flies is a striking novel that explores the darker aspects of human nature. The book begins with a group of children stranded on a deserted island, revealing how quickly social order can deteriorate.
Topic Summary
The novel tells the story of a group of English schoolchildren who are stranded on a tropical island after a plane crash. Although the children initially try to choose a leader and establish order, they are thrown into chaos as their inner savagery comes to the fore.
Main Characters
Ralph : He is elected as the leader of the community and strives to maintain order.
Jack : The leader of the hunter group and the opposite of Ralph, he exhibits instinctive and brutal leadership.
Piggy : Symbol of intelligence and logic, but is shunned because of his physical weakness.
Simon : A mystical character who understands the deep secrets of nature and humanity.
Themes
Human Nature
Golding emphasizes the dark aspects of human nature in his novel. He shows how children become wild as they move away from society. This reveals how strong the animal instincts within a person are.
Social order
The novel shows how easily social order can dissolve. Ralph's leadership and the order he establishes is replaced by chaos under Jack's leadership. This reflects the fragile nature of authority and order.
Lost Innocence
The loss of children's innocence is one of the most striking points of the novel. The children, who play at the beginning, become enemies with each other over time. This shows how fragile the innocence of humanity is.
Conclusion
"Lord of the Flies" is not just an adventure story, but also a work that contains deep philosophical and psychological themes. Golding masterfully handles the darker aspects of human nature, while making the reader think deeply. This work is both a literary masterpiece and a social critique.
Reader Comments
The book has provoked much controversy since its publication, with some readers criticizing Golding's pessimistic view of human nature, while others find it a penetrating analysis.
Comments