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Lord of the Flies: themes, symbols and context
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Golding believed that evil lies inside human beings. The island is a small test of what happens when civilisation is removed.
Context
The novel was published in 1954. Golding served in the Royal Navy in the Second World War and saw what humans could do to each other.
It was written during the Cold War, when fear of nuclear war was high; the boys are being evacuated from a war.
Golding was responding to *The Coral Island* (1857), an adventure where stranded British boys behave well.
It was written during the Cold War, when fear of nuclear war was high; the boys are being evacuated from a war.
Golding was responding to *The Coral Island* (1857), an adventure where stranded British boys behave well.
Key themes
Civilisation versus savagery: rules, the conch and the fire against hunting and violence.
Human evil: the beast is inside everyone.
Loss of innocence: Ralph weeps at the end.
Power and leadership: democracy (Ralph) against dictatorship (Jack).
Human evil: the beast is inside everyone.
Loss of innocence: Ralph weeps at the end.
Power and leadership: democracy (Ralph) against dictatorship (Jack).
Symbols
The conch: order and democracy; it is smashed when Piggy dies.
Piggy's glasses: science and reason.
The signal fire: hope of rescue; later, fire destroys the island.
The Lord of the Flies: the pig's head, a symbol of evil (the name is a translation of Beelzebub, a name for a devil).
Piggy's glasses: science and reason.
The signal fire: hope of rescue; later, fire destroys the island.
The Lord of the Flies: the pig's head, a symbol of evil (the name is a translation of Beelzebub, a name for a devil).
What does the smashing of the conch symbolise?
- The conch stood for order and democracy.
- It is destroyed at the moment Piggy is killed.
- So reason and order are destroyed together.
Answer: The complete collapse of order and democracy on the island.
Published 1954; Golding's war service; Cold War; response to The Coral Island. Themes: civilisation versus savagery, human evil, loss of innocence, leadership. Symbols: conch, glasses, fire, the Lord of the Flies.
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