Why We Are Banned In Lord Of The Flies

There are many books out there that prove to be controversial and are banned from school reading lists. Some are banned because of the use of profane language, sexual innuendo, others because of historical inaccuracy. Yet, some are banned due to the overall meaning of the book and what and how that meaning is conveyed. William Golding 's novel, Lord of the Flies, portrays human beings as being undomesticated, hypocritical, and brutal. The characters, being young boys of no more than 12 years, add innocence to the entire scenario, but that innocence is greatly compromised as the novel progresses. At first glance, the human society may appear normal to any onlooker. But if that onlooker takes a closer look at reality and observes society from the outside, they might quickly say otherwise. This notion is brought up in Lord of the Flies, almost from the very beginning. After being stranded on an island, Ralph, one of the older boys, decided that he would try to call a meeting and gather all the other boys. After finding a conch, symbolic of order,

This is most evident in the last scene of the novel when a naval officer expresses his surprise that the boys were acting irrationally and attempting to kill one another. A specific moment of realization is noteworthy: "The officer, surrounded by these noises, was moved and a little embarrassed. He turned away to give them time to pull themselves together; and waited, allowing his eyes to rest on the trim cruiser in the distance" (202). At this specific instant, the officer realized that the boys were not the only ones acting irrationally and brutally towards each other. The officer himself was in the navy, and had probably taken many lives himself. As a generalization, humans are made out to be judgmental, which is not always the case. Having this view taught in a school system is not something praiseworthy and is most definitely a source of