William Golding’s main reason to explore the defects of human nature

William Golding’s main reason to explore the defects of human nature

in his novel Lord of the Flies is to portray the destruction caused when

civilization is consumed by

DEFECTS OF HUMAN NATURE

William Golding’s main reason to explore the “defects of human nature”

in his novel Lord of the Flies is to portray the destruction caused

when civilization is consumed by the dark side of human nature. He

also wanted to divulge the reactions and behaviors of different types

of people under same situations. The four main “defects of human

nature” that is explored in the novel are fear and insecurity,

indolence (longing for excitement), being dependent on others and

ignorance towards reality. These defects make the boys join Jack’s

tribe even though Jack is selfish, quick-tempered and violent.

Fear plays an important role not only in the novel but also in our

lives as it reflects upon our actions. Everyone reacts differently

while experiencing fear or insecurity. Early in the novel, Jack

mentions that “We’ve got to have rules and obey them. After all, we’re

not savages. We’re English; and the English are best at everything. So

we’ve got to do the right things” (Pg. 42). Later on, when Jack is

asking the boys to raise their hands up if they don’t want Ralph as a

chief, he endures humiliation as no one raised their hands. It is the

fear of being ruled under Ralph which leads Jack to being the chief of

the savages. Furthermore, when the “littl’uns” are afraid of the beast

and tell Ralph about it, he denies it as “there isn’t a beast” (Pg.

35). This is one of the reasons why the boys left Ralph to join Jack’s

tribe. Jack gave the boys a way to deal with their fear from the

beast. He told the “littl’uns” that “fe...

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... the only ones who take the signal fire seriously. Later on in the

novel, after the feast, Ralph admits that he is responsible for

Simon’s death. Piggy refuses to believe it as “It was dark” and “It

was an accident” (Pg. 173). Though deep inside, Piggy knows that it

was murder. Similarly, there are many people in this world who refuse

to accept the true facts no matter how obvious they are.

As Golding grew up during the war periods, he witnessed these “defects

of human nature”. He explored these defects in the novel Lord of the

Flies so that people can relate it to themselves, acknowledge the

problem and find solutions for it before civilization is consumed by

darkness and ruled by savagery and fear. As mentioned earlier, he

hopes that the world unites as soon as possible as he knows that there

is no one who can rescue this world from chaos and darkness.