This idea is similar to the time period when Britain was colonizing new states and starting new civilizations. They were greatly involved with colonizing in Africa and using the natives as slaves. Eventually, they began to gradually withdraw from helping to “enlighten the dark places of the world” (75). When the British were no longer providing structure for the Africans, society fell apart. This relates to the theme of being civilized verses being uncivilized. Once the young English boys were no longer guided by their parents, they were faced with the same conflict just as the Africans were. Golding’s novel shows us how respectable, middle-class boys become “no better than blacks” (77). Running in circles is a major motif used in Lord of the Flies. There are two important kinds of circles: the first being the political circle where the boys assemble together and make rational decisions and the second begin the tribal circle where they ritually kill living beings (Hollahan 67). The first circle is established when the boys first arrive on the coral island. They appoint one leader, Ralph, and create a set of rules. They follow the model their elders have given them back home. Whenever they gathered together, they always formed a circle. The second circle is established when the boys form a circle around the pig and kill their first victim. At the end of chapter 4 the reader sees this tribal circle come to life: “Then Maurice pretended to be the pig and ran squealing into the centre, and the hunters, circling still, pretended to beat him. As they danced they sang.” This innocent parody soon becomes reality when they boys start killing their own kind (68). These different circles show the how order and civilization can change and fall to pieces. In conclusion, there are many prevailing themes in Lord of the Flies. Golding shows the different aspects of human nature in his attempt to “to trace the defects of society back to the defects of human nature.” Evil is the defect that exists within every person’s human nature. Without civilized regulations, these defects will create chaos.
Works Cited
Friedman, Laurence S. “A Christian Interpretation” Reading on Lord of the Flies. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1997 65-74
Friendman, Laurence S. “The Inability to Alter Human Nature.” Bloom’s Guide: William Golding’s Lord of the Flies. Chelsea House Publishers, 2004. 73-74
Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. New York: Penguin Group, 1954
Hawlin, Stefan. “The Savages in the Foreset” Bloom’s Guide: William Golding’s Lord of the Flies. Chelsea House Publishers, 2004. 75-78
Hollahan, Eugene. “Running in Cirlces: A Major Motif in Lord of the Flies.” Bloom’s Guide: William Golding’s Lord of the Flies. Chelsea House Publishers, 2004. 67-68
SparkNotes Editors. “SparkNote on Lord of the Flies.” Sparknotes.com. SparkNotes LLC, 2007
Cited: Friedman, Laurence S. “A Christian Interpretation” Reading on Lord of the Flies. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1997 65-74 Friendman, Laurence S. “The Inability to Alter Human Nature.” Bloom’s Guide: William Golding’s Lord of the Flies. Chelsea House Publishers, 2004. 73-74 Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. New York: Penguin Group, 1954 Hawlin, Stefan. “The Savages in the Foreset” Bloom’s Guide: William Golding’s Lord of the Flies. Chelsea House Publishers, 2004. 75-78 Hollahan, Eugene. “Running in Cirlces: A Major Motif in Lord of the Flies.” Bloom’s Guide: William Golding’s Lord of the Flies. Chelsea House Publishers, 2004. 67-68 SparkNotes Editors. “SparkNote on Lord of the Flies.” Sparknotes.com. SparkNotes LLC, 2007