WilliamGoldingwrites“LordoftheFlies.”Itisastoryaboutboys.Theyareonanisland.Theyarealone.Thereisnoadult.Theboystrytocreaterules.Theytrytobuildasociety.Itdoesnotwork.Thingsfallapart.Thestoryshowsushumannature.Itisnotahappypicture.Goldingbelievesevillivesinsidepeople.Itistherefromthebeginning.Civilizationislikeamask.Ithidesourtrueselves.Whenthemaskfalls,weseewhatisreallythere.

Theboysarriveontheisland.Itisabeautifulplace.Thereisfood.Thereiswater.Itseemslikeaparadise.Theboysareexcited.Theyarefree.Theyelectaleader.HisnameisRalph.Hehasaconchshell.Theshellbecomesasymbol.Itstandsfororderandrules.Everyonemustlistentotheconchholder.AnotherboyisPiggy.Heisfat.Hehasasthma.Heisverysmart.Theotherboysmockhim.Theydonotrespecthisintelligence.Jackistheleaderofthechoirboys.Hewantstobechief.HeisangrywhenRalphischosen.Jacklikeshunting.Helikespower.Thisisthestart.Thegroupsbegintoform.

Thefirstconflictsaresmall.Thelittleboysareafraid.Theytalkaboutabeast.Theyhavebaddreams.Thebigboyssaythereisnobeast.Butthefearisreal.Itgrowsintheirminds.Jackandhishuntersfocusonpigs.Theywanttokillone.Theypainttheirfaces.Thepaintisimportant.Ithideswhotheyare.Itmakesthemfeeldifferent.Theycandothingstheywouldnotnormallydo.Ralphisworriedaboutthesignalfire.Thefireistheirhopeforrescue.Thehuntersletthefiregoout.Ashippasses.Theymisstheirchance.Ralphisveryangry.Jackdoesnotcare.Hehaskilledhisfirstpig.Heisproud.Theprioritiesaresplitting.Civilizationislosing.

Simonisaquietboy.Heiskind.Hehelpsthelittleones.Hegoesoffalone.Hethinksdeeply.Heunderstandsthetruth.Thebeastisnotananimal.Thebeastisinsidethem.Hehasavision.Hetalkstothepig’shead.Theheadisthe"LordoftheFlies."Ittellshimthis."Iampartofyou."Itsaysthebeastisfun.Itsaysthebeastiseverywhere.Simonlearnsthesecret.Hetriestotelltheothers.Itistoolate.

Thesocietybreaksdowncompletely.Jackformshisowntribe.Itisatribeofhunters.Theyliveonthemountain.Theyoffermeat.Theyofferfun.Theyofferprotectionfromthebeast.Mostboysjointhem.Rulesaregone.Theconchismeaningless.Ralph’sgroupisverysmall.OnlyPiggyandSamnericstaywithhim.Theyarethelastlinktotheoldworld.

Piggyisthevoiceofreason.Hebelievesinrulesandthinking.Heisasymboloftheadultworld.Heholdshisglasses.Hisglassesareusedtomakefire.Theyrepresentscienceandintellect.Jack’stribestealsPiggy’sglasses.Theytakethepowertomakefire.TheyleaveRalph’sgrouphelpless.Ralph,Piggy,andSamnericgotoJack’scamp.Theywanttotalk.TheywantPiggy’sglassesback.Itisahopelessmission.

Atthecamp,Jackisasavagechief.Histribeispainted.Theychantanddance.Theyhavelosttheiridentities.Theyareamob.RogerisJack’shelper.Heiscruel.Heenjoyshurtingothers.Herepresentsthebrutalityinhumans.Piggyholdstheconch.Hespeaks.Heasksforreason.Itisuseless.Rogerleansonalever.Ahugerockfalls.Piggyishit.Hefallsoffthecliff.Hedies.Theconchshattersintopieces.Thisisthefinalmoment.Orderisdead.Intelligenceisdead.Civilizationisgone.

NowRalphisalone.Samnericarecaptured.TheyjoinJack’stribeoutoffear.Jack’stribehuntsRalph.Theywanttokillhim.Ralphrepresentstheoldrules.Heisathreat.Theysettheislandonfiretosmokehimout.Thefirewasonceasignalforrescue.Nowitisaweaponformurder.Thewholeislandburns.Ralphrunsforhislife.Heisterrified.Hefallsonthebeach.

Anavalofficerstandsthere.Hehasarrivedbecauseofthefire.Heseestheburningisland.Heseesthedirty,wildboys.Heisdisappointed.HethinkstheyarelikeBritishboys.Theyshouldbehavebetter.Hedoesnotunderstandwhathappened.Hedidnotseethedarknessinside.Theboysseetheofficer.Theyrememberwhotheyare.Theyremembertheworldtheyleft.Theystarttocry.Theysobforthelossoftheirinnocence.TheysobforthedeathofPiggy.Theysobforthehorrortheyhavebecome.Therescueishere.Butitisnotahappyending.Theevilisnotgone.Theofficerwillsoongobacktohisship.Heispartofaworldatwar.Aworldalsofullofsavagery.Theislandisasmallpicture.Thewholeworldisthebigpicture.Theproblemisinsideus.