Inherently Evil Lord Of The Flies Quote Analysis

Mankind is innately evil. The allegorical novel, The Lord of the Flies, allows for little interpretation about human nature. William Golding depicts the idea, “evil is an inborn trait of man” (Golding). Throughout the novel the children who have crash landed on the island begin to uncover their savage nature. Although all of the children somehow succumb to a heinous behaviour, Jack, Ralph, and Roger become most noticeably corrupt. Ultimately, it becomes clear that malicious intent is intrinsic in mankind.

During the novel, the reader becomes increasingly aware of Jack’s dominating and violent tendencies. Specific actions taken are when Jack suggests using one of the younger children as a substitute pig, ties up Wilfred, and hunts Ralph. Things begin to get out of hand when the group’s game turns into a cruel beating. Not long afterwards, Jack suggests that the group

should “use a littlun” (Golding, 115) in their dance. His absence of morals begins to reveal itself in the seventh chapter as this proposition is heartless because it would mean killing such an innocent little child. Moreover, Robert and Roger praise how Jack has tied up one of the boys. Without any known reason, he plans to “beat Wilfred” (Golding, 159). Unjustified and cruel behaviour has become the norm as Jack has now completely surrendered to the animalistic tendencies of mankind. Lastly, the formerly civilized pre-teen concots a plan to hunt and kill one of his fellow survivors. Samneric warn the soon to be prey that Jack is “going to hunt [him] tomorrow” (Golding, 188) and they were told to “throw [their] spears like at a pig” (Golding, 189). The now unstable ex-choirboy has heartlessly determined the fate of the young boy. Lost to the recklessness of humankind, the boy has been compared to an animal and is to be hunted. In conclusion, the illusive respectable nature of humans has been shattered in the eyes of the reader by Jack Merridew and his savage ways.

Additionally, the leader of the now dwindling pack of boys, Ralph, begins to yield to the destructive ways of humanity.

Circumstances which occur in particular are when Ralph mindlessly attacks Robert and foolishly joins into the dance. Having had a taste of meat, the pack of boys decide to hunt once again. As stated previously, things go awry as the group reenacts the hunting of the pig. Robert becomes the mock pig and the once noble Ralph is overcome with the “desire to squeeze and hurt” (Golding, 115). The boy appears eager to harm his fellow friend because it is a quality and want ingrained in him from birth. Subsequently, the celebratory dance turns into a cannibalistic murder. The seemingly innocent dance takes a dark spin as Simon enters the circle, unknowingly becoming the substitute pig. Ralph begins to feel the pull of evil once again, this time “thick, urgent, [and] blind” (Golding 152). The once pure boy has tainted his hands with the cruel ways of humanity and murdered. In brief, Golding has depicted a more accurate picture of mankind and given his audience a glimpse of their barbaric

ways.

Furthermore, the once minor Roger comes into his potential during the final chapters of the novel. He is quite possibly the most vile child on the island due to the fact that he pushed the rock, tortured Samneric, and sharpened a stick at both ends. A rock, pushed by Roger, brings a child to an untimely demise. As Piggy rambles on, Roger, driven by a “sense of delirious abandonment” (Golding, 180), pulls the lever which releases the rock. It becomes apparent that Roger is mentally unstable and already collapsed to the dark ways of humanity. Consequently, the immoral adolescent eagerly concedes to torturing the twins. When Samneric resist joining Jack’s tribe, “Roger advance[s] upon them” (Golding, 182) in order to physically force them to cooperate. It is evident the minor savors tormenting and abusing others and obtains a sick pleasure from it. Comparatively, a mantle is created for when Ralph is captured. Samneric warn Ralph that “Roger sharpened a stick at both ends” (Golding, 190). This has been created to use as a totem for Ralph’s head as they plan to end his life and display his head as a warning. In essence, the once seemingly innocent boy is truly the most dangerous of them all.

In summary, the destructive aspects of the human race in William Golding’s The Lord of the Flies greatly enhances the quality of his work. The novel becomes increasingly more relatable as the theme begins to become more apparent. The three boys Jack, Ralph, and Roger all attribute to embellishing the theme. The following characters all exhibit the startling truth that “there is no hope for mankind” (Golding).