Irony in "Lord of the Flies"

English > Analysis
Literature > English
Psychology > Behaviorism

This paper looks at " Lord of the Flies," and William Golding's introduction of the savage side of human nature through irony as he develops the characters, the discovery of the beast, and the final rescue of the children.

1,700 words () | 6 sources | 1999 United States

Paper Summary:

This essay examines the dark view of human nature in William Golding's novel, "Lord of the Flies." The author discusses Golding's recurrent theme of his fiction, the conflict between humanity's innate barbarism and the civilizing influence of reason. The paper focuses on the ironies in Lord of the Flies through the characters, the discovery of the beast, and the rescue of the boys.

From the Paper:

"The end of the novel hints that under such circumstances it is possible for humans to follow a course of action that will eventually result in its own destruction. Irony plays an important role in the rescue of the children because they leave one corrupt society to return to another. Against all expectations, the children in Lord of the Flies repress all noble instincts and embrace a life of savagery. Golding uses irony to demonstrate that humans are capable of intense evil as a result of their own natures and not because of any outside factors. His book suggests that civilization is the only thing that restrains mankind from a life of barbarism, but savagery also exists in civilization. After all, the children are stranded on the island as a result of a nuclear war and are rescued by a warship engaged in its own savage manhunt."

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APA Citation:

Irony in "Lord of the Flies" (2012, January 15). Retrieved February 10, 2012, from http://www.academon.com/Analytical-Essay-Irony-in-Lord-of-the-Flies/3604