The Island In The Lord Of The Flies By William Golding
A Natural History of the Island in The Lord of the Flies
Even for the observant reader, the island in William Golding’s, The Lord of the Flies, appears to simply be an uninhabited, deserted tropical island or a fantasy land that does not base itself in reality. Though Golding himself may have purposely attempted to create an illogical and chimerical paradise, he incorporated real parts of real tropical islands into his work. Whether Golding attempted to create an illogical island or he simply put no effort into the history of the island, a reasonable history can be concocted from the sparse and vague facts. These inadvertent additions have made the botanical, zoological, geological, geographical and anthropological history of the island …show more content…
Only bananas are explicitly mentioned when “the hunters sat, stuffing themselves with… bananas”(157) Bananas were most definitely originally propagated on the island by Polynesians. Though the type of fruit is not directly mentioned, it is stated that the boys “tread through acres of fruit trees”(77), and that “everywhere [had] the scent of ripeness”(77). Assuming that ripeness means rotting, this is reminiscent of a thicket of guava trees, or in spanish a Guayabal. Often Guayabales will stretch for acres and are filled with fruiting and rotting guavas. Guavas are native to the Americas, and consequently were introduced by non-Polynesians. The last implied fruit is of the genus Passiflora, or passionfruit. It described as being “olive-grey and jelly-like”(157) which is a perfect representation of the fruit of the various species of the genus Passiflora, for their colours are olive, grey, and olive-grey in colour and their textures are always …show more content…
The only native species mentioned are the bioluminescent dinoflagellates and some of the various birds. All other mentioned species are introduced, solidifying the idea that the island was previously inhabited. Though the island is presented as a surreal and unrealistic place, all of its natural phenomena can be explained. Though the lack of some species is illogical, it is even stranger that the only native organisms are animals. All identified plants are non-native, and even the unidentifiable ones are likely to be non-native. Though stated otherwise in the book, all of the research culminates in the fact the island was inhabited before the boys in The Lord of the Flies and the stages of the inhabitation can be theorized and
Even for the observant reader, the island in William Golding’s, The Lord of the Flies, appears to simply be an uninhabited, deserted tropical island or a fantasy land that does not base itself in reality. Though Golding himself may have purposely attempted to create an illogical and chimerical paradise, he incorporated real parts of real tropical islands into his work. Whether Golding attempted to create an illogical island or he simply put no effort into the history of the island, a reasonable history can be concocted from the sparse and vague facts. These inadvertent additions have made the botanical, zoological, geological, geographical and anthropological history of the island …show more content…
Only bananas are explicitly mentioned when “the hunters sat, stuffing themselves with… bananas”(157) Bananas were most definitely originally propagated on the island by Polynesians. Though the type of fruit is not directly mentioned, it is stated that the boys “tread through acres of fruit trees”(77), and that “everywhere [had] the scent of ripeness”(77). Assuming that ripeness means rotting, this is reminiscent of a thicket of guava trees, or in spanish a Guayabal. Often Guayabales will stretch for acres and are filled with fruiting and rotting guavas. Guavas are native to the Americas, and consequently were introduced by non-Polynesians. The last implied fruit is of the genus Passiflora, or passionfruit. It described as being “olive-grey and jelly-like”(157) which is a perfect representation of the fruit of the various species of the genus Passiflora, for their colours are olive, grey, and olive-grey in colour and their textures are always …show more content…
The only native species mentioned are the bioluminescent dinoflagellates and some of the various birds. All other mentioned species are introduced, solidifying the idea that the island was previously inhabited. Though the island is presented as a surreal and unrealistic place, all of its natural phenomena can be explained. Though the lack of some species is illogical, it is even stranger that the only native organisms are animals. All identified plants are non-native, and even the unidentifiable ones are likely to be non-native. Though stated otherwise in the book, all of the research culminates in the fact the island was inhabited before the boys in The Lord of the Flies and the stages of the inhabitation can be theorized and