How Are Innocence And Experience Connected Thematically in Lord of the Flies?

Answer

How are innocence and experience connected thematically in Lord of the Flies?

In “Lord of the Flies” (1954) by William Golding (1911-1993), the themes of innocence and experience are intricately connected. The connection between innocence and experience plays a crucial role in the novel’s exploration of human nature and societal breakdown. 

The plot concerns some British schoolboys, ranging in age from 6 to 13, who are stranded on an uninhabited island after their plane is shot down during an unspecified nuclear war. The boys primarily try to establish order and plan for rescue. However, soon, they forget their rescue plan, spread rumours of a vicious beast, and hunt and kill a few of them. They descend into savagery.

This connection between innocence and experience is primarily illustrated through the transformation of the boys on the island, the loss of innocence, and the descent into savagery.

Loss of Innocence

Initial Innocence: At the beginning of the novel, the boys are depicted as typical children with a sense of adventure. Their innocence is symbolized by their initial attempts to establish a democratic society with rules and order, represented by the conch shell. In Chapter 1,

We can use this [conch shell] to call the others. Have a meeting. They’ll come when they hear us-

Even Jack shows signs of innocence at the bringing. In Chapter 2, Jack says:

We’ve got to have rules and obey them. After all, we’re not savages.

Jack’s willingness to accept rules at the beginning shows how far he falls later.

Gradual Corruption: As the story progresses, the boys’ behavior starts to change. The absence of adult supervision and societal structures leads to a gradual erosion of their civilized behaviors. Key events, such as the killing of the sow, the face-painting, and the frenzied dance, mark their descent into savagery. In chapter 4,

Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Spill her blood.

Jack and the other hunters chant these words while they are hunting. It is indicative of their bloodlust.

Complete Loss: The turning point is the brutal killing of Simon, who represents innate goodness and morality. This act signifies the complete loss of innocence, as the boys no longer see the world through the same innocent lens. The subsequent murder of Piggy and the hunt for Ralph further illustrate the boys’ total transformation.

Experience and Darker Human Instincts

Exposure to Violence: The boys’ experiences on the island expose them to extreme violence and brutality. These experiences corrupt their previously innocent outlook on life. It shows how quickly and easily innocence can be stripped away when individuals are placed in a lawless environment.

The Boys as the Beast: The imaginary “beastie” represents the primal fear and inherent evil within the boys. The boys spread rumors about a vicious beast lurking in the woods. However, it soon becomes clear that the true danger lies within themselves. The beast is among themselves. The beast is their tendency for violence and bloodlust. As the Lord of the Flies (severed pig’s head) reveals to Simon in Chapter 8,

I’m the Beast … You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you?

This realization connects their loss of innocence with a deeper understanding of human nature.

Deeper Understanding of Human Nature: As the boys lose their innocence and fight their own battle on the island, the far more destructive war that brought them there continues off the page. The novel asks the unsettling question, even if the boys were to be rescued from themselves, what kind of world would they be returning to? In chapter 9, Ralph utters:

We did everything adults would do. What went wrong?

This quote raises profound questions regarding the innate darkness within human nature. It highlights the unsettling realization that even in the absence of external authority, the boys’ actions mirror those of adults, who are supposed to possess wisdom and maturity. It suggests the adults’ world is no different from the island – full of chaos, lust for power, killing, war, and barbarism.

In conclusion, “Lord of the Flies” connects the themes of innocence and experience through the boys’ transformation on the island. The boys’ transformation from innocence to experience reveals the unsettling inherent darkness within human nature.