Topic > Major Themes of Lord of the Flies

In the novel Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, he describes many themes throughout the book. Several kids are stranded on an island and must figure out how to survive. Golding seeks to teach us about the loss of innocence, civility versus savagery, power versus leadership, and ultimately good versus evil to demonstrate how, when kids are left to survive on their own, all hell breaks loose. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Golding uses the theme of loss of innocence throughout the book. Not only will kids lose their innocence towards the environment they find themselves in, but also the fact that being away from civilization and people will cause this to happen more quickly. Golding shows us through Jack: "There were lashes of blood... you should have seen it!". The fact that blood and acts of savagery have entertained many of the boys makes it clear that they lose their innocence with every minute they spend on the island. The boys have no remorse for killing the pig so violently, they started chanting, "Kill the pig, cut his throat, kill the pig, hit him." The boys had cut off the pig's head and placed it on a stick. The brutality they witnessed, the things they sacrificed, and just like the things that were lost, represent their loss of innocence. The theme of civilization versus savagery is created and breaks down the civilized behavior of the boys. Before arriving on the island the boys didn't have to worry about what they were doing because they were watched. Now that they are no longer, they have to create their own system. Which is difficult for kids their age. For example, without civility kids would be disorganized. Golding emphasizes through Jack: “We have to have rules and stick to them. After all, we are not savages. This is important to note because at first Jack wanted to be civilized and have boundaries. Yet, Jack is the wildest of the boys. Meanwhile, the boys choose a leader who tries to guide them during the time they are there. The leader would help them have a system that would create a civilization that would keep them safe and, at the same time, create a society in which they could work together. Yet when things don't go the way they wanted from the start, they say, "We're all drifting apart and things are going bad." Without civility things can never be organized and the savagery begins when the kids start to feel threatened. Golding also touches on the concept of power and leadership throughout the novel demonstrating how boys differ. While Jack wants power, Ralph wants leadership. Again, Ralph's idea of ​​leadership is, "What is better: to have laws and agree, or to hunt and kill." Ralph starts out as the main leader who sets the rules to try to maintain order. Try to make other kids understand how important it is to have rules and follow them. His main concern and goal is to be saved. Ralph said: “We need an assembly. Not for fun. Not for laughs. But to set the record straight." Jack is very different from Ralph, he is dedicated to hunting and killing. As time goes on and the boys get wilder, Jack is there to guide them. Which is increasing the power Jack has always wanted. If the rules are not established, followed and organized, the children will be stranded on the island and will not be rescued. Therefore, without leadership, everyone will drift and become more savage. We learn from Golding through his use of themes that humans possess good and evil, demonstrating this through tribes.