William Golding's "The Lord of the Flies"

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that William Golding's "The Lord of the Flies" is of great political and social interest because it highlights the fact that the potential to unleash the darker side of human nature is greatest in the absence of a democratic form of government. The author indicates that two mistakes were made in the leader, Ralph's, election. His rise to power was more because of irrational reasons than any known or professed ability to protect and nurture the fledgling society, and establishing a social order that relies on the ability of only a single leader is problematic. The paper concludes that the novel's main message is that, unless the right to freedom of all human beings is respected, the world will continue to witness the suffering and misery caused by dictatorial and totalitarian regimes, such as those of Hitler and Stalin.

From the Paper:

"These initial mistakes are made apparent as the story unfolds and it is obvious that Ralph fails to live up to the responsibility entrusted to him, ultimately leading to his loss of power to Jack. Thus, "The Lord of the Flies" alerts its readers to "the possible negative impact on society of certain practices, desires, and arrangements of power" cautions us to proceed with care, altering our societies priorities." As against establishing an autocratic form of government, if the fledging society had instead used rational reasoning, chances are that it would have formed a more democratic arrangement, where decisions were debated thoroughly and implemented only if there was a majority vote."

More papers on William Golding's "The Lord of the Flies":

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• Analytical Essay # 62741 : "William Golding's "Lord of the Flies"
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