Lord of the Flies : Themes

Themes

Themes

Civilization vs. Savagery: This is the main theme of “Lord of the Flies.” Golding shows that every human being has two sides — one wants order and peace, and the other wants power and blood. Ralph and Piggy try to build shelters, keep the fire for rescue, and make rules. They stand for civilization and human goodness. Jack and his hunters, however, become wild and cruel. They paint their faces, kill animals, and enjoy violence. They represent savagery and the loss of control. The island becomes a small picture of the real world, where war and cruelty destroy peace. Golding shows that civilization is only a thin layer. Once it breaks, the beast of savagery takes over.

Loss of Innocence: At the start, the boys are happy schoolchildren who want to play and explore the island. They laugh, swim, and enjoy freedom. But slowly, the island changes them. They forget their manners, paint their faces, and become violent. When they kill Simon, their innocence is gone forever. Ralph cries at the end because he understands what they have become — not just children, but murderers. Golding uses this theme to show that human beings are not naturally innocent. Their inner “beasts” come out when they desire power or face fear.

Fear and Power: Fear plays a strong role in the novel. The boys’ fear of the “beast” slowly destroys their unity. They imagine the beast as an outside monster. But the beast actually lives inside them. Jack uses the fear of the beast to gain power. He promises to protect them, but he becomes a dictator. The boys obey him out of fear, not respect. Golding shows that when people are afraid, they easily follow cruel leaders. Power without kindness turns to violence. Ralph’s leadership is based on rules and cooperation. But Jack’s leadership is based on terror. Through this theme, Golding warns that fear and the desire for power can bring chaos and destroy society.

Inner Evil of Man: Golding believed that evil is not outside us — it lives within every human heart. The pig’s head, known as the “Lord of the Flies” in the novel, tells Simon that the beast cannot be killed because it is part of everyone. Even good boys like Ralph and Piggy take part in Simon’s death. It shows that no one is free from darkness. The novel teaches that every person has the ability to do wrong when rules disappear. Civilization only hides this evil for a while. Once the mask of society is gone, man’s true nature appears — selfish, violent, and cruel. Golding’s message is that the real danger is not the beast, but the evil inside human beings.