Loss Of Innocence In Lord Of The Flies Essay

Roger Killed Piggy and Jack Killed Pigs : The Loss of Innocence

What would happen if a group of children were set free without adult supervision? Set in World War Two, William Golding’s Lord of the Flies depicts a group of British schoolboys that are left stranded on an island after their plane is shot down during the battle. While no adults are left to supervise them, their poor decisions lead to horrifying outcomes as Roger, Piggy, Samneric, Ralph and Jack continue to fight with each other over the most effective way of survival and their inner savage self. Throughout the book, the boys’ loss of innocence can be seen through Roger’s actions towards others, Jack’s changed view towards violence, and the tribe’s overall change in morality.

To begin, when Roger first arrives on the island, his actions are mostly innocent and mean no harm to others. Yet as time goes by on the island, his actions begin to have a darker meaning and ends up killing another boy nicknamed Piggy. When Samneric, Piggy and Ralph attempt to retrieve Piggy’s glasses and are surrounded by a group of

When the boys first arrive on the island, they all had the impression that their stay would be fun without having adults supervising. However, after Jack gained power and leadership over a small group of boys who in turn become obsessed with hunting, the rest of the boys begin to unleash their savage side as well. Eventually, almost all of the schoolboys join Jack’s tribe and become wild and uncivilized, shouting, “‘Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood!’” (152) while hunting. After joining Jack’s tribe, the once innocent children suddenly change their morality standards while being caught in the excitement of acting unrestrained by adults. Without realizing what they have become, they lose themselves to savagery and easily take the lives of others, losing their innocence in the