Corruption in Lord of the Flies Analysis Essay Example

Good communities and civilizations need reliable and pure leaders if they want to succeed. Without these important figures, things will usually fall apart. In the Lord of the Flies by William Golding we see this happen throughout the novel. Through the characterization of Jack and the symbolism associated with the conch, William Golding demonstrates that In an environment that lacks civilization people can become corrupt.

Throughout the novel, the character Jack has become more and more dark and brutal. At the beginning of the book, Jack's actions had little effect on all the boys. From time to time he would have a positive idea that could be helpful. At the beginning of Chapter one, Jack agrees with Ralph and Piggy on how they need to create rules and stick to them. “I agree with Ralph. We’ve got to have rules and obey them. After all, we’re not savages. We’re English, and the English are best at everything. So we’ve got to do the right things,”(pg.42). Jack is being very rational and wise, he is recognizing that to survive they need to set and obey rules. Although Jack seems calm now, things only get worse. During chapter six after an argument erupts between Ralph, Jack, and Piggy, Ralph grabs the conch and says that it's his turn to speak. Jack rebuts this by saying; “Conch! Conch!” shouted Jack. “We don’t need the conch anymore. We know who ought to say things,” (pg.101-102). Jack has ditched his original sense of rules which contradicts his original words. In the middle of chapter eight, Jack's thought shows us that he is truly a savage being; “Sharpen the stick at both ends,” (pg. 124).  When Jack said this he intended to put Ralph's head on the stick along next to the Pigs. As the boys continue to kill and hunt they would collect trophies and put them on the sharpened sticks. Knowing this we can see that the Savages (Jack and the other Boys) Now see the other kids as their prey. Seeing Jack grow from an originally dark kid into a complete savage is scary. In the beginning, he stuck to his rules, then he abandoned them and became a savage

Through the novel symbolism has played a big part in keeping order in the story. One symbol, in particular, is the Conch. At the beginning of the novel, the conch symbolizes peace and rules. But as the book progresses that changes. During chapter two when the boys are just getting accustomed to the island they find a conch shell. “I’ll give the conch to the next person to speak. He can hold it when he’s speaking,” (pg.44). At the beginning of the novel, the conch symbolizes peace and rules. All the boys on the island abide by it. For example, when Piggy, Ralph, or any other boys blow into the conch all the other boys understand that a meeting is being called. Although most of the boys listen to the conch, some don't. “Conch! Conch!'' Jack shouted. We don't need the conch anymore,” (pg.101-102). At this point in the book, the Conch starts to lose its meaning. It goes from being the symbol of unity and order to being neglected. During chapter eleven when Ralph, Piggy, and Samneric are confronting Jack about his savage ways the one thing that symbolized the last sense of peace is gone forever “The rock struck Piggy a glancing blow from chin to knee; the conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist.” (pg. 260). When Roger let the rock go and killed Piggy the conch fell from his hand and shattered into pieces.  The conch was the last thing holding the boys back from becoming complete savages and now it's gone. Symbols played a big part in The Lord of the Flies. The one that originally kept the boys sane is the conch. Throughout the book, we see how that develops into chaos.

In an environment that lacks civilization people will become corrupt. When the boys first arrived on the island they still remembered what it is like to live in organized communities. As they set some rules and establish a leader, and a tool that unites everyone (the conch), it seems like everything is under control. But as we move forward the island breaks into two sides, Jack and Ralph. Jack stopped following rules and being responsible while Ralph clings to the sense of civilization. The conch that is meant to ensure peace and order on the island is being disregarded by Jack. Eventually, the conch is shattered symbolically as if to say that the boys can no longer be returned to civilization.

Without structure, rules, and good leadership communities fall apart. Rules ensure that people stay in line and good leadership helps keep the civilization on track. Once the boys in Lord of the Flies see that no one on the island will stop their actions they take that as they can do whatever they please. Before long the boys become savage and ruthless in the ways that they act. The boys that lived in an unsupervised environment community did become corrupt.