Chaos In Lord Of The Flies Essay

{In chapter one, how does Golding represent the struggle between the “ordering” elements of society such as morality, law and culture and the “chaotic” elements of humanity’s savage animal instincts e.g. anarchy, bloodlust, desire for power, amorality, selfishness, violence?}
Golding portrays the opposing elements of order and chaos in a strongly allegorical manner. Chapter one begins with much foreshadowing of situations in the future and the battle between the conflicting elements can already be clearly seen. Golding uses the conch, the behaviour of the “little ‘uns”, the uniform, the opposing personalities of Ralph and Piggy, and Jack to represent the contrasting elements and Jack’s inability to kill the pig as allegories for the struggle between the opposing elements.
The conch is an important tool in establishing the civilisation of the island and directly represents the struggle between order and chaos.
The conch is the object that calls the boys to Ralph after Piggy’s suggestion, “’we can use this to call the others. Have a meeting. They’ll come when they hear us—‘”. The conch also determines Ralph as leader, “But there was a stillness about Ralph as he sat that marked him out: there was his size, and attractive appearance; and most obscurely, yet most powerfully, there was the conch. The being that had blown that, had sat waiting for them on the platform with the delicate thing balanced on his knees, was set apart.” At the beginning, chaos ensued after the plane crash, with each boy scattered around the island. The conch is the symbol that transforms the setting from a place of wilderness and instability into an island capable of civilisation. It is the conch that brings them together into a meeting that reignites the rule abiding, moral, and regularity that they have been conditioned
with.
The behaviour of the “little ‘uns” can be found as the most accurate portrayal of the savage nature of humans. The “little ‘uns” have been taught in a world where structure, civilisation, and order are the norm. “As he received the reassurance of something purposeful being done he began to look satisfied…” This quote in context, tells of little Johnny being the first to come to Ralph after the conch call. The “reassurance” he receives emphasises his need for order and purpose, still strongly instilled within him. This need for order comes from habit of obeying superiors, which can be seen in the next quote. “The children gave him the same simple obedience that they had given to the men with megaphones”. This can be seen when the first assembly is called. The young children recognise Ralph as the superior by his possession of the conch, the object that calls them there.
The uniforms are symbolic of the two elements. While Golding explores the impulse to obey rules, act lawfully, and behave with morality, he demonstrates that these qualities are not innate; instead, they have been conditioned and thrust upon them. The ordering elements can be seen as a thin veneer upon the chaotic and barbaric inner self. The thin veneer of civilised behaviour, morality and sensibility can be represented by each boy’s uniform; both a reminder of the “outside world” of order, and a symbol within itself- uniforms symbolise consistency and regularity, and rigid order. “Some were naked and carrying their clothes: others half-naked or more-or-less dressed, in school uniforms; grey, blue, fawn, jacketed or jerseyed. There were badges, mottoes even, stripes of colour in stockings and pullovers.” They also serve as a physical barrier between the outer depiction of their civilised nature, and the inevitable animal-like savageness that is present within each person. As the uniforms are taken off and become more worn and ragged, the inner savageness of each boy is exposed. However, the ease of the removal of the uniforms can also provide insight as to how simple it is to lose sight of order, and embrace inner savagery.
The characters representing “order” and “chaos” and the development of relationships between them are useful portrayals of the struggle of ordering and chaotic elements. Ralph and Piggy are portrayed as ordering elements, while Jack represents the opposite. As we are introduced to Ralph and Piggy, they discover the conch, and subsequently, rediscover the order that has been lost on the island after the plane crash. Piggy wants reason, and civilisation, and strives to achieve this from first suggesting to use the conch to call the other boys, then by taking the names of the “little ‘uns”. “Piggy leaned down to him, ‘whats yer name?’”. From the beginning, there is a struggle for leadership (mostly on Jack’s part) between himself and Ralph. “’I ought to be chief,’ said Jack with simple arrogance…” Jack immediately gives in to the desire for power (and also embracing his inner bestiality). Ralph is represented as the figurehead of civilisation, with his strong commitment to morals and order, with Piggy as his ‘sidekick’. They represent order, while Jack, strong-willed and egomaniacal, and represent chaos and the instinct of savagery, power and violence.
Jack’s inability to kill the pig that he, Ralph and Simon discover while exploring portrays that the force of the ordering elements that he has been brought up are still instilled upon him. He realises he cannot kill the pig, “because of the enormity of the knife descending and cutting into living flesh; because of the unbearable blood.” Jack fears the consequences this action will bring; a murder is discouraged in an orderly society. However, “He snatched his knife out of the sheath and slammed it into a tree trunk. Next time there would be no mercy.” This quote foreshadows Jack’s shedding of the thin outer layer of civilisation and his gradual transformation into brutality and savagery through his bloodlust and desire for violence.
The battling of the ‘ordering’ elements and the ‘chaotic’ elements are already strongly conflicting in the first chapter. There is heavy foreshadowing of the gradual inevitability that chaos will eventually win the battle and take over, and order will surely be destroyed.