Ralph's Savagery

Without civilization, humans devolve into savages. Once humans separate from civilization they will become savages because they will have no one to guide them; as a result, they resort to less intelligent, fearful, and primitive reasoning. Through both symbolism and characterization, Golding expresses the theme that without civilization, humans become savages.
Ralph has undergone the devolution from civilization into savagery. In the beginning of Ralph's stay on the island, he is portrayed as a calm, innocent boy, “ a mildness about his mouth and eyes that proclaimed no devil” (10). Also, Ralph shows that he cares about everyone on the island not just himself. Ralph’s want's to get everyone off the island by using fire, “There’s another thing.
In an imaginary conversation, the Lord of the Flies tells Simon that he is the beast and that he is the reason for the savagery in the boy’s, “Only me. And I’m the Beast. 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?’ ‘You know...you’ll only meet me down there—so don’t try to escape!’ ‘Jack...Roger..Maurice...Robert...Bill...Piggy...Ralph” (143). The Lord of the Flies provides a clear indication that he is the savage beast within the boy’s and that he, meaning the other boy’s will kill Simon,”You know...you’ll only meet me down there—so don’t try to escape! ‘Jack and Roger and Maurice and Robert and Bill and Piggy and Ralph” (143). Simon will soon realize what the Lord of the Flies met when the boy’s actually kill him, “The beast (Simon) was on its knees...was crying out against the abominable noise something about a body on the hill. The beast...fell over the steep edge of the rock to the sand by the water. At once the crowd surged after it, poured down the rock, leapt onto the beast, screamed, struck, bit, tore“ (152). The boy’s have become blinded by their own savagery and fear to notice that they are killing Simon. Due to their own savagery and fear they killed Simon. No one a part of civilization would be so scared of something that they are paranoid enough to
In the beginning, the fire is relatively controlled similarly to their savagery. Also, the fire used in a civil manner to save everyone on the island, “If a ship comes near the island they may not notice us. We must make a fire” (38). However, towards the end of the boy’s stay on the island, the fire is used in an uncivil manner to harm Ralph. “The fire was a big one and the drum-roll that he had thought was left so far behind was nearer….a great heaviness of smoke lay between the island and the sun. A flame, seemingly detached, swung like an acrobat and licked up the palm heads on the platform” (197). Instead of burning Ralph the rampant fire burns the island. The fire similar to the unleashed savagery in the boy’s becomes uncontrollable and burns the island, just as the savagery in the boy’s kills Piggy and Simon. The boy’s were able to control the fire and their savagery in the beginning of the story because right before they land on the island they were a part of civilization. But, during the boy’s stay on the island the fire, similar to the savagery within the boy’s becomes