Lord of the Flies

Part 1: Civilization and the Rise of Savagery

William Golding’s *Lord of the Flies* is a symbolic novel set during a fictional war. A group of British schoolboys survive a plane crash on a deserted tropical island. The pilot is presumed dead, and the boys are left to govern themselves without adult supervision. The story begins with two boys, Ralph and Piggy, discovering a conch shell. Ralph uses it to summon the other survivors, establishing it as a symbol of order and authority.

At the first assembly, Ralph is elected leader, partly because of his charisma and partly because he possesses the conch. Jack Merridew, the head of the choirboys, is disappointed but is given control of the choir, who become designated hunters. Ralph prioritizes building shelters and maintaining a signal fire for rescue. Jack, on the other hand, becomes obsessed with hunting pigs for meat.

Despite their efforts, the signal fire goes out at a crucial moment, causing them to miss a passing ship. This failure highlights the boys’ declining focus on civilization. Meanwhile, the younger children—known as "littluns"—are plagued by nightmares and fear of a mysterious "beast" on the island. This fear becomes a powerful force, symbolizing the primal fear and irrationality lurking within every human being.

Tensions rise between Ralph and Jack. Ralph wants to maintain structure, order, and hope of rescue. Jack, however, grows increasingly wild, resentful of Ralph’s authority, and driven by the thrill of the hunt. Eventually, Jack breaks away and forms his own tribe at Castle Rock, where savagery and ritual take over. The boys in his tribe paint their faces, dance, and chant during hunts, embracing violence and shedding their civilized identities.

Part 2: The Fall into Chaos and the Meaning of the Beast

As Jack’s tribe gains power, Ralph's influence diminishes. Piggy remains Ralph’s closest ally, representing logic, intellect, and reason. Simon, another boy who is introspective and sensitive, ventures into the forest alone and discovers that the feared "beast" is actually the corpse of a dead parachutist tangled in a tree. He realizes that the true "beast" is not something external, but the inherent evil within the boys themselves.

Simon attempts to return and share this truth, but stumbles into the midst of a frenzied tribal dance. Mistaking him for the beast, the boys brutally kill him. This pivotal moment marks the point of no return—any remnants of innocence or order are now lost.

Piggy and Ralph confront Jack’s tribe in an attempt to reclaim order and retrieve Piggy’s stolen glasses, which are vital for making fire. The confrontation ends in tragedy as Roger, one of Jack's followers, deliberately kills Piggy by rolling a boulder onto him. The conch is also shattered in the process, symbolizing the complete destruction of civilized authority.

Now hunted by the tribe, Ralph becomes a fugitive. The boys set the forest on fire to flush him out. Just as they are about to capture and kill him, a naval officer arrives, having seen the smoke from the fire. The officer is shocked by the boys’ descent into savagery. The children, now faced with the reality of their actions, break down in tears.

Themes and Conclusion

Golding’s novel explores deep philosophical themes: the conflict between civilization and savagery, the loss of innocence, and the darkness inherent in human nature. Ralph represents order, leadership, and morality. Jack symbolizes anarchy, power, and primal instincts. Piggy embodies intellect and logic, while Simon represents natural human goodness and spiritual insight.

In the end, *Lord of the Flies* reveals a bleak view of humanity—that when left unchecked by societal norms, humans can revert to their most base instincts. The island becomes a microcosm of the world, mirroring the violence and chaos present in the adult world of war.