Fear In Lord Of The Flies Research Paper

Fear, one of the most powerful and compelling things over man. Fear can empower someone, make them cower away, or give them courage to face their fear. Franklin Roosevelt and William Golding both believed that people are just afraid of fear itself. In the novel, Lord of the Flies, Golding portrays a few ways on how people deal with fear. Fear can be used to empower someone such as Jack in the novel. Jack uses the fear of the boys into following him. Whenever people are fearful they often turn to those who will issue brute force against what is perceived as the enemy. “ “I expect the beast disguised himself” “Perhaps [...] we’d better keep on the right side of him, anyhow. You can’t tell what he might do.” The tribe considered this and then were shaken, as if by a flow of wind. The chief saw the effect of his words and stood abruptly.” (142) Fear, says Golding, is one of a leader’s most powerful tools for controlling a society. “ “He’s a proper chief, isn’t he?” Robert nodded.” (159) Jack saw that the boys were afraid and used it to his advantage to get control over them and it worked.
They choose to hide and retreat instead of being leaders. Ralph even states, “This is our island.” (35) If this island was really theirs then why didn’t they face the beastie? Why didn’t they leave the fire on the hill and push the beastie out? Instead, Ralph and Piggy chose to move the fire from the mountain down onto the beach. Also, when Simon was brutally murdered by the boys Piggy states that “We left early,” (158). They left from the dancing and chanting they did along the beach. Wanting to see Simon as the beast even when knowing the real truth, they acted in fear and killed him instead. This shows that instead of facing their fears they chose to retreat and hide which is what man does in the face of fear according to Golding and