Lord of the Flies William Golding Background and

Lord of the Flies William Golding Background and Analysis Ms. Crystal Barbour

William Golding • • Born Sept 19, 1911 Cornwall, England Attended Oxford University Studied English Literature and philosophy Joined Royal navy in WWII Career as school teacher Published Lord of the Flies in 1954

William Golding • LOTF - His first and greatest success • After it was published, he retired from teaching and wrote full time • Awarded Nobel Prize for Literature in 1983 • Knighted in 1988 • Died 1993 • His books deal with darker side of human nature

Lord of the Flies Novel dramatizes struggle between impulse to have order, rules, and moral behavior AND the impulse to act self-indulgently, seek power over others, and behave amorally. Civilization/common good for society versus Anarchy/savagery/selfish instinct

Lord of the Flies Bart as Jack • Two extremes represented by: Ralph – protagonist Jack – antagonist • Piggy represents intelligence and clear sightedness (his glasses)

Lord of the Flies • • Ralph’s name – “counsel” (Anglo-Saxon) Jack’s name – “one who supplants” (Hebrew) Simon’s name – “listener” (Hebrew) Roger’s name – “spear” (Germanic)

Major Themes • Need for civilization – basic needs of society • Fear of the unknown • Blindness and sight • Use and abuse of power • Loss of identity • Evil within human beings • • • Survival Betrayal Justice / injustice Violence / death Leadership

Symbols • Conch shell – symbolizes order and authority; organization • Signal fire – symbolizes common sense and light of hope and rescue • Beast – symbolizes evil – both within and without; fear of the unknown

Symbolism Object/ Character Represents/Symbolizes Piggy (and Glasses) Clear-sightedness, intelligence. The glasses’ state represents the status of social order. Ralph, The Conch Democracy, Order Simon Pure Goodness, "Christ Figure" Roger Evil, Satan Jack Savagery, Anarchy The Island A microcosm representing the world The "Scar" Man's destruction, destructive forces The Beast The evil residing within everyone, the dark side of human nature. Lord of the Flies The Devil, great danger or evil

Two movie versions