Chaos In Lord Of The Flies

According to Oscar Wilde, “ without order nothing can exist-without chaos nothing can evolve.” When civilizations lack order and rules, the society ceases to operate resulting in chaos. When there isn’t any central power over the society people take it upon themselves to rule with their own self interests at heart. This individualistic approach results in conflict over differing ideas ultimately causing chaos. Chaos however can result in positive change especially when nothing can fulfills the desirable results. In Golding’s Novel Lord of the Flies chaos ensues because Ralph the civil leader did not have the power to maintain order. The inherent evil in the boys erupts. The boy’s decision to disregard the rules and savagely hunt causes chaos

One major conflict consists of which boy will become the leader, and incontrol of the island dilemma at hand. The environmental situation consisting of a lack of adult authority on the island causes disruption among the boys, and contrasting leadership roles to form because of a difference in opinion. We first see a glimpse of this when Jack and his increasingly savage hunters defy Ralph’s verdict to tend the fire, and decide they want to hunt instead Ralph says,“if i blow the conch and they don’t come back; then we’ve had it. We shan’t keep the fire going. We’ll be like animals. We’ll never be rescued” (92). The emerging conflict between the diverse island opinion’s rise, for their is contrast about whether hunting or tending the fire is more important. Ralph questions the power authority holds over the boys, for if they “don’t come back,” it justifies the difference in opinion between Ralph and Jack and foreshadows more conflict in the future that will come. Ralph also questions the democracy, and fears that democracy will die within the boys. When Ralph says “ We shan’t keep the fire going. We’ll be like animals,” he means that without authority and rules, chaos among the boys with arise. Tending the fire which represents rescue and civilization is how they will get off the island, hunting is not. The authority among the boys weakens, for the difference in priority of getting off the island and hunting is not in line. The ongoing leadership struggle results in a lack of authority over the younger boys. Roger demonstrates this when “(he) gathered a handful of stones and began to throw them. Yet there was a space round Henry. Perhaps six yards in diameter, into which he dare not throw. Here, invisible yet strong, was the taboo of the old life” (62). This quote foreshadows what will happen in the future that results from an unthorough authority.