Tension In William Golding's Lord Of The Flies

Golding's use of repellent descriptive details adds a mood of tension. This is evident when Golding described the "white nasal bones, the teeth, the colours of corruption". If this description is considered symbolically, Golding may be portraying a message about the boys' civilization. When Golding used the abstract noun 'corruption', it may imply that Golding tried to describe the loss of order and loss of civilisation within the boys. At this point in the novel, we can see the battle between good and evil and the boys' losing themselves as well as the lives they were accustomed to living; and as corruption is associated with the loss of order- it can make us think that Golding could have used these graphic descriptions to portray this and

Despite this, it appears more that Golding was trying to add to the mood of tension, savagery anterior to the death of Simon. The striking imagery created by the description could have been to provoke disturbed emotion from the reader and perhaps get a sense that this mood is building up the further that the chapter continues. The more pictorial the description become, the more events and build up the author creates; the build-up of description can add to the shock and drama of Simon's death. When "the Lord of the Flies hung on his stick like a black ball", it also adds to the odious descriptions that add tension. Through the mention of the adjective and darkest colour, black, Golding accentuates the darkness and gloom on the island. Pinpointing back to the start of the novel, we are filled with colourful and vibrant descriptions of the island- with palm trees that stood "with their green feathers" and also descriptions of the "incredible pool"; which highly contrasts to the bleak and corrupt atmosphere that is present nearing the end of the novel. This contrast highlights that Golding may be trying to symbolise the dark taking over the light (or evil taking over the good). Both these descriptions demonstrate how all good is being lost in the island and could make the reader speculate whether the good will ever come back- and just the extent of power that the evil will