Who Is The Island In Lord Of The Flies

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The Lost Boys: Alone and Stranded. “Human nature is like water, it takes shape of its container” (Wallace Stevens). The book, Lord of the Flies, by William Golding takes place during World War II, and illustrates the struggles a group of young boys go through, as they try to survive on a deserted island. The island setting immensely effects the characters’ behaviours and contributes to the main conflicts in the book as being stranded provokes fear within the boys, creates rivalries, which leads to segregation, and turns the boys into savages. Thus, the chosen setting influences the characters and events. To begin with, Golding’s island setting affects the characters as the idea of being marooned elicits fear and panic within the group of boys. …show more content…

Throughout the book, readers can identify the clear rivalry between Ralph and Jack. Ralph, a protagonist, acts as a leader to those boys who are still optimistic, whereas Jack, an antagonist, leads the rest of the boys who are hopeless. In the beginning of the book, Ralph lifts the conch and states, “Seems to me we ought to have a chief to decide these things”, followed by the boys chanting “A chief! A chief!” and Jack responding, “I ought to be chief” (pg. 22, Golding). This is the first event where Golding demonstrates the shift of power among the boys. This is important to consider as children should not hold such power in the first place, but due to the plot revolving around the island, readers forget that the characters are still children; making the idea of children fighting over power seem ordinary. It also marks the first time readers see Jack’s dominant side coming forward because he is isolated from adults. As Ralph, being more mature then most of the other boys, tries to offer a civilized way to surviving, Jack’s arrogance acts as a barrier to this idea. Hence, the island setting ignites a conflict between Ralph and Jack. Another way, the stranded-on-an-island setting provokes competition between characters, is the time the boys choose Ralph to be chief over Jack. As Jack becomes more power-hungry, he states, “‘Who thinks Ralph oughtn’t to be chief?’ [Jack] looks expectantly at the boys ranged around, who had frozen. ‘Hands up… whoever wants Ralph not to be chief?’” (pg. 127, Golding). This symbolizes Jack’s breaking point, as he reveals his wishes to become the leader. Being alone and with no adult to guide the boys, Jack’s alter ego comes forward, a part of his personality that he would most likely hide when in front of adults. The boys choosing Ralph over him, triggers him; which ultimately leads him to start a rival group on the island whose lifestyle is barbarian-like.

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