Savages At Hand

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Recommended: Who is ralph compared to from lord of the flies

William Golding stated that “Lord of the Flies as an attempt to trace the defects of society back to the defects of human nature.” Golding uses dynamic symbols in Lord of the Flies to prove society’s problems today are because of defects in human nature. Ralph symbolizes how appearance and good looks wins the heart of the community, while Piggy symbolizes intelligence and wisdom. Jack , the tyrant leader that uses fear to dominate and control society, while Simon uses peace and love to show gratitude to the community. Golding manipulates his major characters to prove that humans are full of defects.

Ralph is Golding’s way of representing our natural human defect on how we chose to follow attractive and powerful appearing leaders. Golding makes Ralph the leader of the community of boys, when he says “Shut up… Seems to me we ought to have a chief to decide things.” (22). Roger, a “littleun”, in the beginning of the book gives the idea of having a vote, which Ralph wins by a landslide. Golding states “None of the boys could have found good reason for this; what intelligence had been shown was traceable to Piggy, while the most obvious leader was Jack.” (22). The author gives the reader a beautiful description of Ralph “But there was a stillness about Ralph as he sat that marked him out: there was his size, and attractive appearance; and most obscurely; yet more powerfully, there was the conch.”(22). Ralph’s appearance shows that he is dominant over the choir. Through Ralph, Golding is showing us that we like to have leaders that are strong and handsome. Just in current events Arnold Schwarzenegger, a previous California governor, has gained major media attention from his divorce. The media and the public love to watch beautiful peo...

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...Jack’s hunters symbolize Hitler’s military. In Lord of the Flies Jack reproduces actions made by Hitler. Jack becomes a power hungry savage that feeds off of the weakness of others. Golding lets physical power dominate over knowledge and wisdom when Jack kills Piggy. Physical power can be a thing to fear, but strengthen in numbers can overpower fear and intimidation.

It is obvious that Golding used symbols to show the defects in our human nature. Golding points out that we like to follow the beautiful, the wealthy and the famous. He also points out wisdom and knowledge does not show importance when choosing a leader. Simon assists in showing us that evil exists in every person just as Jesus did. Jack shows how without organized control things become physical and savageness takes over. Without organized control and wisdom and knowledge civilization can not exist.

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