Comparing the Similarity in Themes in Alex Garland's The Beach and William Golding's Lord of the Flies

Comparing the Similarity in Themes in Alex Garland's The Beach and William Golding's Lord of the Flies

There are a number of themes which are common to The Beach by Alex

Garland and Lord of the Flies by William Golding. Four of these themes

will be reviewed in this essay by comparing the characters and the

events which occur. The themes are, first, isolation, which is

developed in both books relatively near the beginning of each.

Secondly, the fact that things are not as they seem, for example, "The

vicious morning sun," and, "the desire to squeeze and hurt was

over-mastering," from The Beach and Lord of the Flies respectively.

Thirdly, in both novels insanity is a significant aspect, with

particular reference to two of the key characters, Richard in The

Beach and Simon from Lord of the Flies. Lastly, the way relationships

of the characters develop is explored as the final theme.

An important concern for the authors is isolation. In The Beach and

Lord of the Flies, Richard and Simon's portrayal follows similar

lines. When travelling by himself, Richard soon joins up with two

other travellers and they arrive at the beach together. Soon, however,

Richard becomes more of an 'outsider' when he faints on arrival at the

beach, and feels isolated when he sees his travelling companions have

bonded with other members of the community whilst he has been asleep,

Something made me hesitate before I stepped out from behind the

tree-line. Seeing my two travelling companions on such friendly terms

with the other swimmers felt strange. They were all laughing and

calling each other by name. It made me realise how much I'd been left

out by sleeping...

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... Lord of the Flies, an argument between Ralph and Jack

sees Jack leaving to form his own tribe. This causes tension and

splits the island. Similarly, this is shown in The Beach, with a rift

forming over an argument.

To sum up, both books, although written in different periods and by

different authors have similar themes. The background they deal with

is different, and yet in some respects the same. The main events in

both books take place on an island. People fall out with each other,

and, as demonstrated above, almost identical themes can be found

running through both novels. The isolation of Richard and Simon, the

insanity developed through Mister Duck and The Beast, the hints as to

things not being as they seem, and the complex relationships which the

inhabitants of the islands display, all feature in both novels.