I read Lord of the Flies as part of a class assignment on intellectual freedom. We were to choose a book from one of the ALA’s banned and challenged books lists. Discussion of our chosen book and intellectual freedom takes place this week. Until now I had never read Lord of the Flies. I knew what it was about though, boys marooned on a deserted island turn into little savages. That is essentially what the plot is, but leapin’ lizards Batman, this book blew my socks off! (use of superlative, Emerson wouldn’t like it!)
What I liked best about the book is how Golding so skillfully took the story from innocent fun to the horror of murder. Not once did he step into the story to explain what was happening. We see it all through the eyes of Ralph who begins the story doing handstands and ends up being hunted. Golding gives Ralph glimmers of what is going on so that once in awhile he sort of understands. But it is clear to the reader and to Ralph, that he isn’t a really smart boy and that he has difficulty thinking and working things out. What he does work out he often gets assistance on from Piggy, another boy who has “ass-mar,” who can work things out however imperfectly–his desire to belong sometimes occludes his judgment. And so the story ends up being like a horrible accident we can see coming but can do nothing about, nor can we look away. We have to witness it and be a part of it and we have to acknowledge that what the Lord of the Flies tells Simon may be true:
“There isn’t anyone to help you. Only me. And I’m the Beast.”
Simon’s mouth labored, brought forth audible words.
“Pig’s head on a stick.”
“Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill!” said the head. For a moment or two the forest and all the other dimly appreciated places echoed with the parody of laughter. “You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you? Close, close, close! I’m the reason why it’s no go? Why things are what they are?”
It doesn’t matter whether the Lord of the Flies is just a pig’s head on a stick covered with flies, a reference to a line from Lear (“As flies to wanton boys, are we to the gods, — They kill us for their sport”), or a reference to Beelzebub, what the Lord of the Flies represents–a descent into primitive savagery–is what does matter.
Ralph and a handful of boys struggle to remain civilized–to follow rules, to build shelters, to keep a watch fire in hope of rescue. While Jack leads the rest of the boys further and further away from civilization. What the Lord of Flies says, that he is part of us, is unsettling. Golding shows us that even Ralph and the others who represent civilization find the moral-free life of Jack attractive at times and even gleefully participate in it. Ralph and Piggy, however suffer remorse afterwards while the others do not.
I wonder then, is that the difference between a moral, civilized world and an immoral, savage one? One feels guilt and the other does not? Is the Beast really so close as he claims? Or does Golding just take a dim view of human nature? Even though it has been over fifty years since the book was published, I’m not certain that we have a clear answer. That’s another reason why this book is so terrifying, Golding might be right.
Hmmm…I’ve never thought I wanted to read this one, but maybe I’m beginning to change my mind.
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Did you notice any similarities with The Island of Dr. Moreau and the creatures’ regression?
By the way, why and by whom was Lord of the Flies banned?
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A banned book? I read this at school, I was about 12 I think – it was on my school reading list.
I remember being chilled by it, as you say, unsettling, and your account renews that feeling. I’m interested to read it again to see if I have the same reaction.
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i did not at all get to read this book. ii think it’s about time i should check this out for i am already nearing 40.
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Emily, the book is wonderful and I highly recommend it next time you are looking for something shortish and intense to read.
Sylvia, I didn’t think of Dr. Moreau, but the idea is similar. What I thought about is Heart of Darkness. Lord of the Flies has been banned and challenged in schools all over the US. I couldn’t find any religious reasons which surprised me. Mainly the reason is because it is demoralizing and implies that humans are little more than animals. In an interesting side note, the essay by E.L. Epstein that appears in the back of my edition of the book, was banned last year from a Georgia high school because Epstein suggests that a scene in which a sow is killed is written in terms of sexual intercourse.
BooksPlease, it would be interesting to know if the book was still unsettling for you. I did not read it when I was a kid, but after reading it now, I don’t know how kids could get the full horror of what happens.
lyttondora, it is a really good book. I hope you get the chance to read it.
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Golding was a very religious man and I always viewed Lord of the Flies as his argument for the imperfection of man and original sin. I think the main message of the book is that we are imperfect and there is an evil inside of us. (the unwritten undertone is that god/Christianity is the answer)
I enjoyed Lord of the Flies as a novel, but I don’t necessarily agree with the idea.
-James
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I remember that this book really frightened me when I read it for the first time (High school I think) and I would love to reread it – luckily most Swiss highschoolers have to read it in English and so there are about a billion copies at thriftstores around here. Wish I could box them up and send them to random teens in the US – in towns where the book has been challenged 🙂 just for my own subversive kicks.
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I got to read this book in school too. It blew my mind and terrified me in equal measure. Glad you think so highly of it!
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Avery, I never would guess that Golding was religious since there is no mention of religion in the book. I’m not sure about what it says regarding original sin, but I can agree that Golding is definitely saying their is the potential for evil in all of us.
Verbivore, you just might find it more frightening as an adult because you get more of what’s going on.
Maggie, I can’t believe I haven’t read it until now!
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Habia una vez…
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I love Lord of the Flies!! I teach it at school to the high schoolers, and they won’t admit it, but they secretly love it too. I love Piggy’s specs and of course the conch.
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Abarclay, that is fantastic that you teach it at school. It warms my heart that your students love it even if they won’t admit to it. Piggy is an interesting character. He makes me a little sad but he is also very brave.
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I am required to read lord of the flies this quarter cause i gotta read a banned or challenged book. I’m looking forward to it cause everyone says its a interesting novel to read. If anyone would like to help, post more reasons why it is challenged. I heard from other websites there is sexual content/langauge, demoraling issues, and violence.
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I was supposed to read LoTF (not to be confused with LoTR) in high school, but didn’t get the chance to finish it in a busy semester. So, I put it on a to-read list and picked it up a few years later, during summer break in college.
The thing I remember being most jarred by is Simon’s obvious Christ comparisons. His hallucination in which he converses with the LoTF just reminded me so much of Christ’s conversations with Satan in the desert.
Frightening, beautiful book. I need to read it again.
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I was in sixth grade when I first picked up Lord of the Flies. It remains to this day one of my favorite books. William Golding’s descriptions of the setting enchanted me, and…I don’t want to give away the ending…I mourned for many of the characters. I highly reccomend this book!
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Hi, i’m doing a comparitive essay on lord of the flies and the island of dr moreau. anyone ever considered that? if so what sort of things would you put in there?
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I also had to read this book in highschool. Perhaps, as some suggest, I did not fully capture the essence of the book as a child and, therefore, could not thoroughly enjoy it. However, I think the book makes and excellent statement for the reasons which many children and teens nowadays find reading so dull. Taking note of the reading list of a friend’s eighth grade daughter, I noticed that the only book focused on a female character was Speak, a depressing novel in which a girl is horribly raped. Speaking not as one mortified by religion, I think the book is a prime example of why intellectuals should push for less gore and more plot in high school and jr. high reading. If nothing else, it should lower the rate of teenage depression!
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I have recently read this book, and did not fully grasp the importance of some of the facts. I appreciate your reveiw because I now better understand this book. The knowledge chills me.
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I really hated this book (reading it for the first time as an adult as well), despite the beautiful writing and powerful setting and characters. But this is absolutely a beautiful review of it. There are so many serious themes in it and Golding really did create a powerful story. I just couldn’t stomach it.
I prefer a more positive look at human nature, I guess.
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I love Lord of the Flies it is dark and bluntly honest in a way that makes you look at yourself and wonder how close to savagery you are.
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