A good theme statement for Lord of the Flies would be as
follows: innocence is an illusion and human nature tends toward evil. Children are
thought to be innocent and good, but when the kids from the novel are stranded, they end
up tormenting and murdering each other. While they start out in an organized way, the
ever important power struggle erupts between the two leaders (Ralph and Jack) and then
quickly effects all the other boys.
Readers must remember
that Golding wrote LOTF in response to horrible things that he had experienced in the
Navy during WWII. Golding's novel serves as a harsh commentary on the weakness of
humanity and the rotting effect of power. Golding's young characters crash land on a
virtual garden of Eden, but by the time they leave they have turned the island into a
gutted, flaming Hell.
No comments:
Post a Comment