Immorality as Humans

Immorality as Humans

Evil is constantly talked about on the news, in history class, and by people in society. But who causes this evil that society is so intrigued by? Author William Golding’s idea of evil in “the darkness of man’s heart” is present in his novel, Lord of the Flies, and in the present world.

Everyone has personal opinions on the definition of evil, but what is the true definition? Some argue that God can only judge if an act is evil, while some say only certain things are evil. Many philosophers and authors argue over what the most accurate definition is. One psychiatrist, Dr. M. Scott Peck, suspects that Satan lives within people as a lazy and less-disciplined figure, which induces mental illness and criminal activity (Lawhon 1). Author Michael Stone defines evil as specific deeds designed to torture or murder another individual, but “the perpetrator be aware that the victim would suffer intensely, experience agony”. Who do we have to blame for these unthinkable acts of hatred? The only ones capable of them: humans. Humans are the only creatures that can feel emotions, such as shame, and have complex, rational thought (Stone 19). It is hard to tell when bad actions blur into evil acts. True evil is when that person knows what they are doing is wrong, but continue to do so because it gives them pleasure.

Humans commit many acts of evil towards each other. Some well-known examples are Hitler killing the Jews during the Holocaust, spouse abusers, and infamous serial killers, like John Wayne Gacy and Ted Bundy. Another example is Satan worshippers in Russia stabbing four teenagers 666 times and then proceeded to eat them (Haywood 1). Another example is a woman and her boyfriend beating her 1-year-old son with belts...

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...Golding is a perfect exemplar of humans at their worst. Examples of evil towards humans is Roger and Maurice kicking the little boy’s sand castles down (Golding 60), Piggy getting no meat (Golding 74), the murder of Simon (Golding 153), and the attempted murder of Ralph (Golding 195). Examples of evil towards animals is the torture and murder of the mother sow (Golding 136) and putting the stick in the sow (Golding 135). Examples of evil towards environment is Jack slashing the candle buds (Golding 30) and the savages setting the island on fire in their attempt to try and kill Jack (Golding 195). Lord of the Flies shows how dark mankind truly is.

Human beings are the only creatures capable of evil. The human race harms one another and animals for fun and destroys the environment. The only thing evil can be specifically defined is that it is a human characteristic.