William Golding, a British author who won the Nobel Prize, published Lord of the Flies in 1954. The plot centers on a group of British teenagers who make vain attempts to govern themselves when stranded on a lonely island. The conflict between morality and immorality, reason and emotion, and individualism and group identity are a few of the subjects covered.
Positive reviews were generally given to the book, which was Golding’s debut. It was listed among the top 100 novels by the Modern Library, where readers and editors placed it 25th and 41st, respectively.
1. “[The boys] found themselves eager to take place in this demented but partly secure society. They were glad to touch the brown backs of the fence that hemmed in terror and made that governable” -William Golding
The fence serves as a physical reminder to the boys that they are still decent, British boys. They take comfort in this up until you take Simon’s assertion that the Beast is “just us” into account. If this is the case, the boys have simply enclosed themselves for the evening and the Beast as a result.
2. “Roger gathered a handful of stones and began to throw them. Yet there was a space around Henry, perhaps six yards in diameter, into which he dared not to throw. Here, invisible but strong, was the taboo of life.” -William Golding
The beginnings of Roger’s cruelty against the little ones are described in this section from Chapter 4, which is a crucial first step in the group’s descent towards savagery. The lads are still developing their civilization at this point in the story, and the civilized instinct continues to rule the savage instinct. However, there are cracks starting to appear, particularly in some of the older guys’ readiness to use aggression and physical force to make themselves feel superior to the younger lads. This passage illuminates the psychological processes that led to the emergence of that willingness.
3. “Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart, and the fall through the air of a true, wise friend called Piggy.” -William Golding
The boys encounter the naval officer, who seemingly materializes out of thin air to help them at the end of the book, in which these final lines from Chapter 12 appear. Ralph suddenly realizes he is safe and will be taken back to civilization when he sees the officer, which sends him into an introspective depression. Ralph recognizes that even though he is saved from certain death on the island, he will never be the same. Therefore the rescue is not an entirely joyful occasion. He has lost his innocence and has come to understand the darkness that resides within all people.
4. “All this I meant to say. Now I’ve said. You voted me for the chief. Now do what I say. They quieted and were seated. Ralph dropped down and spoke in his normal voice.” -William Golding
Ralph only needs to remind the boys that they agreed to follow a particular set of rules for them to relax. Right now. It’s unsettling to consider, but the fact that the majority of people believe our government should exist is essentially the only thing holding it in place.
5. “There isn’t anyone to help you. But only me. And I’m the Beast. Thinking fancy that the Beast was something you could hunt and kill! You knew, didn’t you? Am I part of you? Close. I’m the reason why it’s no go? Why are things the way they are?” -William Golding
This quote states Simon’s vision in the glade; the Lord of the Flies addresses Simon. These words support Simon’s hypothesis from Chapter 5 that the Beast might actually just be the boys. The novel’s investigation into the inherent savagery of humans revolves around the notion that the evil on the island comes from within the lads. The Beast, which The Lord of the Flies identifies as is acknowledged by Simon as existing within all people: You were aware, didn’t you?
The creature appears even more repulsive and devilish thanks to his bizarre use of the boys’ slang, “I’m the reason why it’s no go,” and grotesque language. For example, the creature taunts Simon in the same informal, well-known language the boys use. Simon tries to tell the other boys about his discovery after being shocked by it, but they mistake him for the Beast itself, attack him, and kill him as the evil and savagery within the bubbles to the surface.
6. “What I mean is . . . maybe it’s only us.” -William Golding
In Chapter 5, Simon utters these words during the boys’ discussion of the beast question. The youngsters debate if the Beast might genuinely exist after one youngster makes the terrifying suggestion that it might lurk in the ocean during the day and only come out at night. Simon, on the other hand, suggests that possibly the lads themselves are the Beast. Although the other lads laugh off Simon’s idea, his words are crucial to Golding’s argument that there is inherent evil in humans. The first person in the book to understand the Beast as a part of human nature rather than an outside force is Simon.
When Simon has a vision in the glade and confronts the Lord of the Flies in Chapter 8, he finally understands his own concept. Prior to that, he was unsure.
7. “His mind was crowded with memories; memories of the knowledge that had come to them when they closed in on the struggling pig, the knowledge that they had outwitted a living thing, imposed their will upon it, taken away its life like a long, satisfying drink.” -William Golding
This excerpt focuses on Jack’s mental state after murdering his first pig, another turning point in the lads’ descent into savagery. Jack revels in the kill and, his mind “packed with memories” of the hunt, is unable to think of anything else. Golding makes a clear connection between Jack’s elation and the sense of strength and superiority he had after killing the pig.
Instead of joy at having helped the group and obtained food, Jack is thrilled at having “outwitted” a different creature and “forced” his will on it. It is now evident that Jack’s preoccupation with hunting is driven by the fulfillment it gives his basic instincts and has little to do with helping the group as a whole, despite Jack’s earlier comments earlier in the novel that hunting is necessary to produce meat for the community.
8. “Shut up,” said Ralph absently. He lifted the conch. “Seems to me we ought to have a chief to decide things.” -William Golding
Jack is foolish to think that the reason he should be in charge is that he can sing in C sharp, but is Ralph’s election any more foolish because he is cute and owns the conch? Golding might be suggesting that all laws and order are a little fictitious, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t significant.
9. “Within the diamond haze of the beach, something dark was fumbling. Ralph saw it firstly and watched till the intentness of his gaze drew all eyes that way.” -William Golding
This quote states the basis of initial impressions, the boys begin to get to know one another. This is actually a terrific technique for readers like us to understand the characters.
10. “In front of Simon, the Lord of the Flies hung on his stick and grinned. At last, Simon gave up and looked back, and he saw the white teeth and dim eyes– and his gaze was held by that ancient, inescapable recognition.” -William Golding
The other lads can’t see things the way Simon does, and he has insights they can’t. In this instance, he perceives fear, violence, and death—otherwise known as himself and all other people—captured in the smirking pig’s face.
11. “The ground was hardened by an accustomed tread, and as Jack rose to the full height, he heard something moving. He swung back his right arm and hurled the spear with all his strength.” -William Golding
Although we don’t know anything about Jack’s training, we can assume that while he was busy singing C-sharps, he didn’t have much opportunity to practice throwing spears. You can take the boy out of the jungle, but you can’t take the boy’s aptitude for taking down jungle beasts out of him, according to this claim.
12. “Then Maurice pretended to be the pig and ran squealing into the center, and the hunters, circling still, pretended to beat him. As they danced and sang.
“Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Bash her in.” -William Golding
Boys killing pigs are introduced first in this quotation, followed by boys pretending to kill boys who are pretending to be pigs, and then Jack hunts Ralph down in the pretend—or possibly real—hopes of impaling his skull on a stick. Just as we are accustomed to reading about murder, the boys are introduced to it gradually. And perhaps that is how we get ourselves embroiled in terrible conflicts.
13. “The tears began to flow, and sobs shook him. He gave himself to them now for the first time on the island; great, shuddering spasms of grief seemed to wrench his whole body. And in the middle of them, with filthy body, unwiped nose, Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart, and the fall through the air of the true, wise friend called Piggy.” -William Golding
This quote shows that Ralph may be sobbing like a child, but he is no longer a child. It’s not so much that he has lost his innocence. But more that he no longer believes that anyone can be innocent. Additionally, notice how this passage combines two completely distinct languages. We transition from the depravity of man’s heart to the dirty physique. Matted hair, and unwiped nose, and from the uplifting, noble phrase of a genuine, wise friend to Piggy.
14. “You got your small fire right.” the boys were falling still and silent, feeling the beginnings of awe at the power set free below them. -William Golding
When Piggy points out that the lads have set half the island on fire. Everyone reacts irrationally before realizing that this is not good. Oops. However, it appears that they are also becoming aware of their power. For the first time in their lives. Nobody would deny them the right to watch TV because they used up the firewood. Acting without concern for repercussions seems like it.
15. “The fair boy began to pick his way as casually as possible toward the water. He tried to be offhand and not obviously uninterested, but the fat boy hurried after him. “Aren’t they grownups at all?” “I don’t think so.” -William Golding
Piggy is still in disbelief. He is the one who initially becomes fixated on adults. and he is also the closest thing we have to one. How come? Is it related to the fact that Piggy’s parents are deceased. That he comes out as exceptionally mature?