Cruelty In Lord Of The Flies Quote Analysis

Have you ever wondered why some people gain pleasure from doing brutal actions? In

the novel, Lord Of The Flies by William Golding, the idea of cruelty is shown through many brutal actions that the characters find pleasurable.

Piggy tries to do what’s best for everyone. He was the ‘word of reason.’ But since nobody respected him, he was never given power. The author states, “ ‘I got the conch,’ said Piggy indignantly. ‘You let me speak!’ ‘The conch doesn’t count on top of the mountain,’ said Jack. ‘So you shut up.’ ‘... I got the conch!’ Jack turned fiercely. ‘You shut up!’ Piggy wilted.” (Golding 42.) Jack treats Piggy as if he is unimportant. All characters show cruelty towards Piggy one way or another. Because Piggy has the mentality of an adult, the boys refuse to listen since they want their freedom. The author indicates, “... Roger with a sense of delirious abandonment, leaned all

of his weight on the lever… The rock struck Piggy.. Piggy fell forty feet and landed on his back across the square red rock in the sea. His head opened and stuff came out and turned red… The body of Piggy was gone. ‘See? See? That’s what you’ll get! I meant that! There isn’t a tribe for you anymore! The conch is gone… I’m chief!”(180-181) Jack, Roger, and the rest of the savages go to the extremes with Piggy. Sadly going a little too far this time, causing Piggy to lose his life.

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All Piggy wanted to do was be the voice of reason, but the savages didn’t care. Even though they had brutally murdered Piggy, they are still completely unapologetic.
Ralph, who was elected chief in the beginning of the novel, was definitely more civilized than the others.

Which is why he had gotten treated the way he did by Jack and the choir. The author writes, “ Jack made a rush and stabbed Ralph’s chest with his spear.” (Golding 177.) Even though Ralph is technically chief, Jack will stop at nothing to become chief. Ralph had been teasing Jack for being a thief, and that had pushed Jack over the edge, causing him to lunge towards Ralph. Jack does not have a high tolerance for Ralph’s actions, and Ralph obviously has a high tolerance for pain. William Golding states, “ ‘The chief and Roger.. They hate you, Ralph. They are going to do you.’ ‘They are going to hunt you tomorrow.’ ‘... Roger sharpened a stick at both ends.’ ” (188) As you, the reader, can probably tell, Jack certainly does not like Ralph. He only likes the faction that obeys and follows him. Those who do not obey Jack, he wants to kill. This island has really gotten to Jack, he is just pure evil now, and poor Ralph and every other character has had to deal with his

cruelness.
Simon was a young, innocent boy, sadly he lost his fight to the savagery of the island. Golding states, “ ‘I’m warning you. I’m going to get angry. D’you see? You’re not wanted. Understand? We are going to have fun on this island! So don’t try on my misguided boy, or else…’ said the Lord Of The Flies.”(144.) Simon has finally gotten enough of the island and he has lost the little bit of sanity he had left. The Lord Of The Flies warns Simon that the savages are going to kill him. It reveals that the beast in within themselves. The author writes, “ ‘Kill the

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beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood!’. . . Simon was crying out about something about a dead man on a hill. . . Simon’s dead body moved out towards the open sea.” (Golding 152-153.)The group of boys end up blaming Simon’s death on the darkness. SamnEric, Ralph, and Piggy all feel guilty for what they did, but the rest of the group does not feel guilty whatsoever.
Clearly, the idea of cruelty is shown throughout the novel and has been portrayed in many brutal ways.