Civilisation vs. Savagery in Lord of the Flies

Relationship between Ralph and Jack
1. Rivalry between Jack and Ralph echoes tension between civilisation and savagery. Savagery wins?
  1. "'what makes things break up like they do?' Piggy rubbed his glasses slowly and thought […]. 'I dunno, Ralph. I expect it's him.' 'Jack?' 'Jack.' A taboo was evolving round that word too. Ralph nodded solemnly."
2. Ralph
  1. -The Chief, creator of rules -Voted in democratically -Loses power within group -Eventually hunted by Jack's tribe
  2. Ralph clings on to civilisation, attempts to live by rules and order and fails. Savagery wins
    1. "Ralph shouted against the noise. 'Which is better, law and rescue, or hunting and breaking things up?'"
    2. "He [Ralph] lifted the conch. 'Seems to me we ought to have a chief to decide things.'"
3. Jack
  1. -Succumbs to savagery -Dictator-like figure -Creates opposing savage (rival) group -Extremely arrogant
    1. "'I ought to be chief,' said Jack with simple arrogance"
    2. [Ralph] "I'm chief. I was chosen." [Jack] "Why should choosing make any difference?
    3. "[Jack's] mind was crowded with memories; memories of the knowledge that had come to them when they closed in on the struggling pig, knowledge that they had outwitted a living thing, imposed their will upon it, taken away its life like a long satisfying drink."
4. Other Characters
  1. Roger - Sadistic
  2. Samneric - Loss of identity
  3. Piggy - Clinging on to Civilisation
Symbolism
1. Piggy's Glasses
  1. Symbol of technology and intelligence
  2. Source of Fire (and rescue)
    1. "Can't you see we ought to die before we let the fire go out!"
    2. "A fire, make a fire!
  3. Smashed then stolen - This echoes the boys' abandonment of logical thinking
    1. "He was a chief now in truth...from his left hand dangled the glasses"
2. The Conch
  1. Symbol of civilisation
    1. Symbols of civilisation lose their power as the novel progresses, while the symbols of savagery become more important
    2. "'Conch?' / 'That's what this thing is called. I'll give the conch to the next person to speak. He can hold it when he's speaking.'"
  2. It's appearance declines as the boys descend into savagery
    1. Smashed near the end of the novel
      1. "The rock struck Piggy a glancing blow from chin to knee; the conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist"
3. 'Lord of the Flies'/Beast
  1. Physical manifestation of the innate savagery within all mankind
    1. "Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill! You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you? (...) I’m the reason why it’s no go? Why things are what they are?"
Setting
1. The Island is a microcosm of society. What happens on the Island happens in the rest of the world.
  1. Savagery exists within our apparently civilised society
Link to other Themes
1. Loss of Innocence
  1. Savagery is natural
    1. Loss of innocence naturally occurs when rules and punishments are removed
2. Nature vs Nurture
  1. Is civilisation/order a fantasy? A man-made concept?
    1. Everyone born savage? Is "right vs wrong" a manmade concept?

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Civilisation vs. Savagery in Lord of the Flies

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