How Did the Society of the Marooned Children Resemble a Political State in “Lord of the Flies”?
Lord of the Flies is a notable literary work by William Golding. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, to various questions of Lord of the Flies.
Answer
How did the society of the marooned children resemble a political state in “Lord of the Flies”?
In “Lord of the Flies” (1954), by William Golding (1911 – 1993), a group of boys are stranded on a deserted island. They try to form their own society. This new society shares many features with a political state. Here are key points to show how their society resembles a political state.
Leadership and Authority: The boys quickly establish a leader to guide them. It is much like a head of state. This election process shows the boys’ need for a central authority to organize and lead their group. Ralph is elected as their chief. One boy suggests,
Let him be chief with the trumpet-thing,
Rules and Order: The boys create regulations to maintain order. It is similar to laws in a political state. These rules are intended to ensure that everyone behaves in a way that benefits the group. It highlights the necessity of laws in maintaining a civil society. They emphasize,
We’ve got to have rules and obey them. After all, we’re not savages.
Division of Power: Different roles and responsibilities are assigned to various boys. It reflects a division of power seen in political states. Jack is given control of the hunters. Piggy is in charge of taking names and keeping track of everyone. This division helps manage the group and ensure that different tasks are handled efficiently.
Conflict and Struggle for Power: The struggle for power is a central theme. It reflects political conflicts in real states. Jack’s desire to overthrow Ralph. He wants to become the chief. Jack wants to form his own tribe. This division illustrates how power struggles can lead to divisions and conflict within a political entity.
In “Lord of the Flies,” the boys’ attempts to create a structured society on the island reflect the elements of a political state. Golding shows how the boys reflect larger societal structures and challenges through leadership, rules, division of power, and power struggles.