What Is The Loss Of Innocence In Lord Of The Flies

615 Words2 Pages

In Lord of the Flies, the story is very focused on how the boys changed on the island. The most effective change is the process, when they lose their innocence. In the story, they lose their innocence through many affective events and gradual changes that show their instinct and darkness within human nature. Initially, they are joyful and peaceful, but the fear and the power of society get strong, and their innocence is changed by savagery and violence. At the outset of the story, the boys revel in their newfound freedom from their isolation. They drop rocks off cliffs, swim in the lagoon, and explore the island. Those actions symbolize their innocence and the joy of childhood, as they are isolated from society’s rules and living without adults. However, this initial sense of joy and adventure, highlighting their normal innocence, is setting the stage for the dramatic transformation that unfolds as the story progresses. …show more content…

After the discussion of the friendship between them, the influence of “human badness” controlled by Jack begins to manipulate the behaviors and decisions of other boys. They represent civilization(Ralph) vs savagery(Jack). The first event was during Jack’s group hunting, they accidentally erased their signal. This becomes increasingly pronounced and Jack thinks that hunting is more important than rescue. At this point, Ralph is acutely aware of the disconnect between his and Jack’s priorities. In the beginning, there is no reason for conflict, but most of the boys become savaged by Jack’s strong influence. He led them into savage use of human darkness. The boys naturally forgot to think about rescue and erasing the bonds of kindness and trust that bound them together. Instead, they focus on satisfying their primal instincts and desires. Consequently, their collective focus shifts from the goal of rescue to survival under Jack's

Open Document