The Importance of Adversity in Lord of the Flies Essay Example

Human history has been tainted with hardships, often resulting in painful yet essential truths about one’s character. In Lord of the Flies, young boys face the grueling task of surviving on a wild, conflict-ridden island. William Golding’s Lord of the Flies utilizes the adversity of the island to reveal the significance of character development.

In William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, Ralph discovers his strength as a peaceful leader in the midst of chaos and confusion. When the boys first arrive on the island, they are immediately drawn to Ralph’s calm and logical demeanor, as “there was a stillness about Ralph as he sat that marked him out” (Golding 22). Ralph is able to maintain this mindset throughout the novel, showing his ability to remain rational and civilized in a time of crisis. Ralph would have never known this about himself had it not been for the challenges he faced, and his time on the island reveals great strength, even at only twelve years old. In addition to Ralph’s character development, Simon also demonstrates his growth through adversity.

As the story progresses, Simon, who may have been overlooked at first, emerges as an extremely significant figure in the novel. Prior to his tragic and sacrificial death, Simon has a revelation that “The beast was harmless and horrible; and the news must reach the others as soon as possible” (Golding 147). While the majority of the other boys have joined Jack’s tribe and spiraled into violence, Simon is able to rise above the darkness of the island, and become the christ-like character who dies trying to help others. Had it not been for the plane crash onto the island, Simon would have been just another schoolboy in England, not the savior of a story.

By using the challenges and adversity of the island, William Golding is able to showcase the growth that can come out of great tragedy.  From Ralph’s leadership to Simon’s sacrifice, these challenges are able to show who the characters really are. Whether it’s in Lord of the Flies or in everyday life, trials have the power to reveal one’s true character.