Lord of the Flies - Savagery Essay

Humans are just a bunch of animals without society. Without the rest of the world having an influence over the boys, the boys lean toward their animal-like instincts. William Golding crafts the conversion within the boys from man to savage. Over the course of the novel, Lord of the Flies by William Golding, the author develops the idea of savagery through the boy's disassociation from civilization to convey the idea that there is a beast inside every human being. Through the onset of the novel, the boys begin to transform into savages through the need for survival. Throughout the novel, Jack prioritizes ¨hunting pigs¨ (Golding 32). The new openness without society prompted Jack to shift away from his British regularity. The action of Jack hunting for food is the first approach the author makes to transform the boys into savages. Jack is the only boy worried about food and believes that the way to kill a pig is by becoming an animal-like predator. At the beginning of the novel, Jack misses his chance to catch a pig. In this sense, this motivated him more to kill through his embarrassment of being fearful. Jack eventually becomes ¨ape-like among the tangle of trees¨ (Golding 49). The imagery the author uses creates the true savage efforts Jack took while on the island. Unlike Ralph, Jack has no real responsibility which quickly evokes him to become this beast-like figure. Throughout the beginning of the novel, Golding constructs Jack into a savage character through his efforts toward survival. As the boys become farther disassociated from civilization they not only change for survival but for their pleasure. The boys abused the pig with the ¨sting of another spear in her flank¨ just for their own fun (Golding 135). Not only are the boys killing, but they are assaulting because they think it is entertaining. Jack's quick conversion into savagery inspired Roger's barbaric actions throughout his journey on the island. The immaturity of the boys not only created savagery but also began to take away focus on being rescued. Though the hunters sought food, they treated it as ¨a good game¨ when they heard the ¨pig-dying¨ after a long chase (Golding 115). The boys competed for the kill of each pig and exhibited the beastly people they had become. Within this point in the novel, the boys have completely lost their civilized English ways and become violent animal-like humans. The hunting of pigs became a savage game to the boys and the way to win was by becoming a murderer of the pigs. Further disassociating from civilization, the boys would kill for their amusement. As the author concludes the savage change in the boys, the boys exemplify savagery through their own personal exasperation. Many of the boys on the island at this time have no clear memory of what civilization meant to them, giving them no structure on what to do with the idea of not being rescued. Even as ¨Simon's dead body moved out¨, the Lord of the Flies still acted as if there was nothing wrong with his barbaric actions (Golding 154). The Lord of the Flies knew that this ¨was murder¨, and he was the cause (Golding 156). The structure within the boy's constructed civilization was not possible to succeed with the savage actions happening. The boys now exceed to commit true crimes because they don't seem to believe they will be rescued and have to pay the price. The island brought a change among each of the boys and ultimately brought out the beast within them. Jack most of all exemplifies the savagery that can occur without civilization. Even after the hardship the death of Simone brought to the boys, Roger continues his newfound savage ways leading to the ¨heard [of] the great rock¨ which struck Piggy (Golding 180). The boys now showed no humanity left within them. The island transmuted these civil British boys into wild animal-like people. Not only did these savage actions lead to the tormenting of the boys, but they also caused the death of two innocent boys due to others' annoyance. Throughout Lord of the Flies, William Golding gives us the idea that there is a beast inside all of us. Just like the boys on the island, disconnection from society can provoke savage ways within us. Although our civilization at times does not seem very useful, without it, we would be a bunch of animals just trying to survive. If at times we find ourselves doubting the benefits of our society, we must learn to have the strength to withstand our troubles and be happy we have the structure we possess.