What Is The Violation Of Natural Rights In Lord Of The Flies

Abusive Power Results in the Violation of Natural Rights

In Lord of the Flies, the school boys went from order to utter chaos, with unlimited power granted to the leader. John Locke would disapprove of the manner in which the boys lived in Lord of the Flies. Locke would also disagree with the leadership on the island, believing that the boys’ natural rights were infringed upon, the government was not legitimate, and would oppose Ralph’s and Jack's’ style of ruling.

John Locke would surmise that the boy’s natural rights were transgressed on the island in Lord of the Flies. Locke identified the natural rights of life, liberty, and property as things that all people seek and need. On the island, the other boys took Piggy’s glasses away

from him on multiple occasions, violating his natural right of property. The right to live is taken away from both Piggy and Simon, clearly not granting them their natural rights. Liberty wasn’t granted to all the boys, as they were told to do something, and they often had little or no voice in whether they did it or not. The boys’ natural rights were flouted on the island.
John Locke would believe that the government the boys established on the island in Lord of the Flies was not legitimate. The leadership the boys established did not institute control, with no enforcement of rules or rights - food was distributed unevenly and no punishment was given to those who broke edicts. The majority of the boys didn’t always agree with the decisions and actions that took place at various times. Only the leader, Ralph at one point, and Jack at another, had the power to make an ultimate decision. The leadership on the island was inconsistent and illegitimate.
John Locke would also disagree with the way in which Ralph and Jack ruled on the island in Lord of the Flies. When Ralph held the power, the government system on the island originally resembled a direct democracy. The boys gathered in an assembly and voted for a leader, giving the boys the power to vote and have a voice. On the other hand, when Jack held the power, it became a dictatorship - there was no voting and no limitation of Jack’s power. Ralph and Jack both took advantage of their power at some point; Ralph used his power as an advantage over the other boys and Jack abused his power by taking complete control. Under the rule of both boys, the boys’ natural rights were not protected. For instance, when Piggy’s glasses were taken, no actions were taken to protect his natural rights. Locke would not approve of Ralph’s and Jack’s leadership style.
John Locke would indeed approve of the election the boys held to vote on a leader. The boys held an assembly to vote on who they wanted to give their consent to - Ralph. Locke would approve of the fact that the boys had a say in who was in power through the election, however, would greatly disapprove of Jack’s dictatorship. With no limitation to Jack’s power, natural rights were not protected. Locke would approve of the election the boys held that gave Ralph power, but he would strongly disapprove of Jack’s dictatorship.
In conclusion, John Locke would disapprove of life on the island in Lord of the Flies, holding beliefs that acts took place that violated the boys’ natural rights, the government was illegitimate, and that Ralph’s and Jack’s leadership did not honor the boys’ given natural rights. The natural rights of life, liberty, and property, were not protected adequately on the island.