The Theme Of Loss Of Innocence In Lord Of The Flies

In The Lord of the Flies, a novel written by William Golding, Ralph, the protagonist, a twelve-year old British boy left on an island with younger British boys, recollects:
But the island was scorched up like dead wood━Simon was dead━and Jack
had. . . . The tears began to flow and sobs shook him. He gave himself up to them now for the first time on the island; great, shuddering spasms of grief that seemed to wrench his whole body. (202)
Ralph reflects upon the boys’ actions and recognizes that they all have lost their innocence, which can be interpreted as maturing and being exposed to the savagery within human beings. A loss of innocence is a major theme addressed by Golding in The Lord of the Flies, and is evident throughout much of the novel.

Initially, the boys agree that they need meat in order to survive; hence, they decide that Ralph, Jack, and Simon, should pursue and kill a pig.

However, as civilized British schoolboys, they are unable to overcome the influence of adults and society and kill the pig. Later on, Jack continuously attempts to hunt for meat, but is never successful. After the consecutive failures, Jack argues, “I was just waiting for a moment to decide where to stab him… I was choosing a place. Next time━!“ (31). Gradually, he loses his innocence; he becomes bloodthirsty and violent, breaking the barrier that civilization and society has created. Another hunt ensues the previous failures, during which Jack creates a mask, which symbolizes a final shift between civilization and savagery; with innocence lost , Jack and his hunters succeed in

hunting.
Celebrations, which are acts with the boys reenacting the hunts, followed many of the successful hunts. During the acts, the boys form a circle around a boy who pretends to be the pig and chant “Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Bash her in.” (75). However. the acts become increasingly gruesome and horrific, to the extent where “the pig” is beat or even killed. Frightfully, the boys not only become cruel to animals and nature, but also become violent towards Ralph, as Jack rebels against him. Furthermore, after a successful hunt, the boys horrendously behead the dead pig, place the head on a sharpened stick, and offer the head to “the beast”. The boys lose their innocence and their desires are only satisfied by violence and pain.
At the conclusion of the novel, Ralph reflects upon the actions of the boys and cries. "And in the middle of them, with filthy body, matted hair, and unwiped nose, Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man's heart..." (202). After the naval officer rescues Ralph and lectures the boys, who are under the authority of adults, become ashamed of their actions and behavior when influences of society and civilization were not present. Ralph realizes that the boys have lost their innocence and become savages.
In The Lord of the Flies, William Golding addresses the argument of a loss of innocence within the boys on the island. Golding argues that no matter how civilized an individual is, he/she may become savage when put in a specific situation. The boys may have been civilized children, but after being left in a situation where no adults or influences of society, they become savages and lose their innocence, which is a theme evident throughout much of the novel. The boys recognize this and reflect upon their behavior when society and civilization returns to them.