Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies

Background NotesBackground Notes

William GoldingWilliam Golding

Served in the Royal Served in the Royal Navy during WW IINavy during WW II

Wartime experiences Wartime experiences left him with a grim left him with a grim view of humanityview of humanity

Lord of the Flies was Lord of the Flies was published in 1954 published in 1954 and became his and became his most successful most successful bookbook

The PlotThe Plot A group of school boys are A group of school boys are

stranded on an island after stranded on an island after their plane crashes.their plane crashes.

With no adults to set rules, With no adults to set rules, the boys try to organize the boys try to organize themselves. They select a themselves. They select a leader (Ralph) and divide leader (Ralph) and divide into groups.into groups.

Soon, the boys devolve Soon, the boys devolve into savagery. into savagery.

The book is based on some The book is based on some of the real life violence of the real life violence that Golding experienced that Golding experienced during WWII.during WWII.

CharactersCharacters Ralph – Represents civilization. Ralph – Represents civilization.

He tries to recreate the order of He tries to recreate the order of society until they are rescued. society until they are rescued.

Jack – Represents barbaric, Jack – Represents barbaric, base instincts within people. He base instincts within people. He is the hunter and is prone to is the hunter and is prone to violence and selfish behavior.violence and selfish behavior.

Simon – The only truly “good” Simon – The only truly “good” character. He is kind and character. He is kind and generous with others. He is the generous with others. He is the opposite of Jack’s evil opposite of Jack’s evil personality.personality.

Piggy – Physically very Piggy – Physically very vulnerable. Intellectual.vulnerable. Intellectual.

Roger – Sadistic and cruel. Roger – Sadistic and cruel. Sides with Jack. Sides with Jack.

http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/video/http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/video/433248/Lord-Of-the-Flies-Movie-Clip-Th433248/Lord-Of-the-Flies-Movie-Clip-There-Isn-t-Any-Beastie.htmlere-Isn-t-Any-Beastie.html

Simon and RogerSimon and Roger Simon is a “Christ Figure” Simon is a “Christ Figure”

in that he is naturally in that he is naturally good, kind, and generous. good, kind, and generous.

Roger is a sadistic Roger is a sadistic character who takes joy in character who takes joy in the pain and suffering of the pain and suffering of others. others.

While Roger needs the While Roger needs the rules of society to keep his rules of society to keep his evil nature in check, Simon evil nature in check, Simon does not need imposed does not need imposed order to remain good.order to remain good.

Simon Confronts EvilSimon Confronts Evil Simon’s conversation Simon’s conversation

with the Lord of the with the Lord of the Flies could be a Flies could be a hallucinationhallucination

But it is important to But it is important to remember that remember that Simon is the only Simon is the only character who character who senses that the true senses that the true evil on the island is evil on the island is in the hearts of the in the hearts of the boys themselves.boys themselves.

Simon as a “Christ Figure”Simon as a “Christ Figure” The name “Simon” is the The name “Simon” is the

same as one of Jesus’s same as one of Jesus’s disciples. disciples.

Both Simon and Jesus note Both Simon and Jesus note overwhelming thirst before overwhelming thirst before death.death.

His conversation with the His conversation with the Lord of the Flies mirrors Lord of the Flies mirrors Christ’s conversation with Christ’s conversation with Satan in the desert.Satan in the desert.

Simon’s knowledge that Simon’s knowledge that the beast isn’t real is the the beast isn’t real is the only chance of saving the only chance of saving the boys from their own sinful, boys from their own sinful, destructive nature.destructive nature.

What is the supernatural What is the supernatural message that Simon receives?message that Simon receives?

““Fancy thinking the beast was something Fancy thinking the beast was something you could hunt or kill!” you could hunt or kill!”

““You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you? You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you? Close, close, close.” Close, close, close.”

““I’m the reason why it’s no go, why things I’m the reason why it’s no go, why things are the way they are.” (A direct answer to are the way they are.” (A direct answer to Ralph’s earlier question to Piggy: “What Ralph’s earlier question to Piggy: “What makes things break up like they do?”)makes things break up like they do?”)

Jesus Tempted by Satan in the Jesus Tempted by Satan in the DesertDesert

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”  Jesus answered, “It these stones to become bread.”  Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” you will not strike your foot against a stone.”

Jesus Tempted (Cont.)Jesus Tempted (Cont.)

Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” the Lord your God to the test.”

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.” Then the devil left him, and angels him only.” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.came and attended him.

Simon’s Reaction to EvilSimon’s Reaction to Evil

Simon tries to resist the evil of the Simon tries to resist the evil of the Lord of the Flies, but faints as a result Lord of the Flies, but faints as a result of fear and exhaustion.of fear and exhaustion.

When he wakes and finds the truth of When he wakes and finds the truth of the dead soldier, he fails in his the dead soldier, he fails in his attempt to save the boys from their attempt to save the boys from their fear. Instead the violence continues to fear. Instead the violence continues to escalate.escalate.