"Lord of the Flies" and "1984"

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how both William Golding in "Lord of the Flies" and George Orwell in "1984" present a grim view of human nature, a view that indicates that humanity has an irresistible tendency to fall into an abyss of depravity and oppression. The paper explains that at first, Golding seems to offer a less pessimistic view of human nature than Orwell does but in the end their views are nearly identical. The paper looks at how Golding's boys begin free from the oppressions of society, but fall into savagery and how Orwell's society has already fallen before the novel opens, and escape is out of the question. The writer concludes that, in the end, it is harder to say whose vision is more negative, and a reader can do little more than hope that neither author is correct in his bleak vision.

From the Paper:

"Orwell presents a society already fallen. The Party controls every aspect of life, especially through the control of the constant propaganda that is bombarded on the inhabitants of Oceana, in which London is located. With the telescreens that watch every person (Orwell 2, 5-6, 9, 11, 27, 97, 148), the "two-minutes hate" each day, to the monthly public hangings (Orwell 23-4, 49-50, 57), the constant fear of the thought police (Orwell 4-5, 62, 101), grim depravation in which goods are always in short supply (Orwell 49, 162), and everything from cigarettes (Orwell 5), to gin (Orwell 5, 77, 150) to housing (Orwell 20-21), is of such poor quality that there is no possibility of joy in life (Orwell 41, 49, 60-61), this is a totalitarian society."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Epstein, E.L. "Notes on Lord of the Flies." Lord of the Flies by William Golding. New York, New York: Capricorn Books, 1959. 188-192.
• Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. New York, New York: Capricorn Books, 1959.
• Orwell, George. 1984. New York, New York: New American Library 1957.

More papers on "Lord of the Flies" and "1984":

• Comparison Essay # 133334 : "Lord of the Flies and 1984"
• Comparison Essay # 61477 : "1984" and "Lord of the Flies"
• Comparison Essay # 136349 : "'The Lord of the Flies' and' All Quiet on the Western Front'"

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