Savagery Theme in Lord of the Flies Literature Essay Example

Everyone in the world is different, meaning we all have different goals. One's goals may be similar, but the ways in which these goals are accomplished differ. The novel “Lord of the Flies'' begins with a plane crash in the middle of the ocean, with the only survivors being a group of boys. Two of these boys take leadership in order to assure the survival of the others, gradually their ways of achieving these goals differ, creating conflict in their relationship.  In the allegorical fiction novel “Lord of the Flies'', Willaim Golding portrays the relationship of two main characters Ralph and Jack to convey how the views of a Ralphs democratic system and Jacks dictator system have a common goal of survival, however gradually savagery led to the destruction of all law and order within the boys.

Golding utilizes symbolism and imagery to portray the complex relationship of Jack and Ralph to reveal how Ralph's leadership unites the boys in order to survive, however Jack's dictatorship develops a more brutal lifestyle for survival, but as the groups dispute their differences lead to the loss of human instinct and introduction to savagery. During the exposition of the novel, Golding creates symbolism for government and order through the conch the boys find. The conch is used as a means of calling meetings to discuss concerns and ideas for their survival. However as the story develops tensions rise between Ralph and Jack due to savage desires possessed by Jack. Jack became so savage, that as Piggy began to speak regarding their survival, Jack's group pushed a boulder off a cliff with “the rock [striking] Piggy; the conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist”(Golding 260).  Golding's symbolic reference, the conch, is destroyed during an act of savagery, Golding exhibits that not only has the conch been destroyed but also the foundation of law and order it stands for has been destroyed. The murder of Piggy is evidence of the destruction of law and order, and also proves Jack's group have lost all human morals and they are resulting in savage behavior for survival. Piggy's death was a direct result of Jack's ignorance of Piggy's thoughts and ideas because of Jack's superior and dictator mindset. Contrasting Ralph's initial system of order, creating equality and providing a more civilized environment giving all the right . Golding also applies imagery to his writing to describe the animalistic ways his characters are now acting. For example Jack invites the two members left of the original more civilized group, Ralph and Piggy, to their feast consisting of the animals they had hunted. As the two boys arrive Jack commands one of his servants to get him a drink, Golding then describes Jack's posture as “Authority [sitting] on his shoulder and [others chattering] in his ear like an ape”(Golding 215). The animalistic diction provided by Golding represents that Jack has descended into a primitive more savage state, Jack acts like an ape with an abundance of power and no human sense of right or wrong. Also the authority in which Jack possess deems him worthy of commanding his servants to follow his every command, providing evidence of Jack's dictator system established. Jacks current state contrasts how the initial group created by Ralph portrays Jack as a fellow leader alongside Ralph, both working together and not thinking of themselves as superior. But Jack's animalistic want to hunt and kill resulted in his rejection of Ralph's democracy ideals, as Jack created a new group consisting of savages with primitive ways of hunting and creating a power hungry inhumane system. Golding's use of symbolism and imagery allow the reader to establish the knowledge of the relationship between Ralph and Jack. That jacks inhumane ways create a need for a savage lifestyle consisting of murder, hunting and power. The complex relationship between Ralph and Jack develop a theme of  Civilization against Savagery as Ralph represents order and to maintain civilization where as Jack stands savagery and the need for power among the boys.