Mankinds Evil Exposed in Lord of the Flies Essay -- Lord of the Flies

Mankinds Evil Exposed in Lord of the Flies Despite the progression of civilization and societys attempts to suppress mans darker side, moral depravity proves two indestructible and inescapable contrary to culturally embraced views of humanistic tendencies towards goodness, each individual is susceptible to his base, innate instincts. In William Goldings Lord of the Flies, seemingly innocent schoolboys evolve into sanguinary savages as the latent evil within them emerges. T replacement regression into savagery is ironically paralleled by an intensifying fear of evil, and it culminates in several brutal slays as come up as a frenzied manhunt. The graphic consequence of the boys unrestrained barbarity, emphasized by the backdrop of an external war, exigently explores mankinds potential for evil. Dismissing the detonation of an atom bomb and the realizable deaths of their parents as merely an unusual problem (14), the schoolboys selfishly indulge in their lush jungle environs. The overwhelming glamour which spreads over them (25) momentarily eclipses their awakening withdraw for domination. At first, the boys express this necessity through the seemingly innocuous heaving of rocks and the belittling of Piggy, who is physically inferior. Had these actions occurred in the boys English homeland, they would have been accepted as ordinary,childish behavior. However, at a lower place the guise of innocent excitement, the boys derive an unimaginably violent pleasure (18) from exercising control over living things (61). Ominously, their craving for power is a presage for the rootage that is to be shed. This blood which had initially been so unbearable (31) is now lusted after it compels Jack... ...lightenment is a condemnation rather than a liberation, because the knowledge of evil will constantly remain as a scar upon his mind. Now that Ralph truly understands the darkness of mans heart (202), he will recognize it in all its forms and disguises, falling heir to Simons role of the bearer of truth and condemnation. The constant possibility that he may succumb to internal evil may instill Ralph with an further sense of care and despair. This torment marks the end of his innocence (202), and Ralph will never be able to return to his former state of carefree happiness. Only death, the end to each individuals experience of the human condition the same death that liberated Simon and Piggy can free Ralph from the enlightenment and curse of his insight. Work Cited Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. New York Harcourt, 1962.