Analysis of Allegory in The Lord of The Flies by William Golding

William Golding wrote the Lord of The Flies to convey his allegory about the world. There are many examples throughout the book of innocent children turning into savages because of the beast inside of them. Golding lived through two world wars which changed his perspective about humans. Therefore, in this essay it can be argued that he believes that humans are savage at heart, constantly in a struggle for power and only following those who benefit them the most.

The British novelist William Golding exemplified that humans are constantly at war for power. At the beginning of the novel ralph was the undeniable leader after he blew the conch to signal all of the other stranded children. Later in the novel Jack couldn't handle Ralph being the leader and wanted to be the leader himself by challenging Ralph’s leadership and eventually creating another group he was the leader of. Jack Said: “I’m not going to be part of Ralph's lot… I’m going off by myself”. Jack exposed the idea that people follow who will benefit them the most, when he took a feast to the rest of Ralph's lot to convince them to join him. “We will take to meat along the beach and invite them to a feast” a few abandoned Ralph in favor for Jack. At the beginning of the novel ralph was the undeniable leader after he blew the conch to signal all of the other stranded children. Later in the novel Jack couldn't handle Ralph being the leader and wanted to be the leader himself by challenging Ralph's leadership and eventually creating another group he was the leader of.

Another idea Golding might be portraying in his book is that Humans are naturally savage at heart, A example of that is the choir group, in the beginning “The creature stepped from mirage on to clear sand and they saw that the darkness was not all shadow but mostly clothing. The creature was a party of boys, marching approximately in step in two parallel lines and dressed in strangely eccentric clothing. Shorts, shirts, and different garments they carried in their hands; but each boy wore a square black cap with a silver badge on it. Their bodies from throat to ankle, were hidden by black coats, which bore a long silver cross on the left side of the chest, each next was finished off with a hambone frill”. “The boy who controlled them was dressed the same way but his cap was golden”. Towards the ending of the book they were different “Each of them wore the remains of a black cap and ages ago they had stood in 2 rows and their voices have been the song of angels”... “We’ll hunt” said jack. Jack used to lead them in choir, singing, but now he is leading them in hunting and being beastly and savage.

All humans are not savage all the time, some try to resist their natures and be good “We've got to have rules and obey them. After all, we're not savages. We're English, and the English are best at everything”. But in the end those who are good natured didn't last in the “Lord Of The Flies” both Simon and piggy, the two nicest and helpful guys on the island perished. While Ralph and Jack two guys who fought for power and Jack the one who became the most savage of all survived and made it off the island.

In conclusion William Golding experiences in his lifetime, helped him write and convey the allegories in the critically acclaimed “Lord Of The Flies” such as Humans are in a constant struggle for power, they are savages at heart that only follow who can benefit them the most.