Environment in William Golding's Lord of the Flies Essay Example

Nature is pure, but has been corrupted time and time again throughout the age of man. Its generosity has come to our aid countless times. Lord Of The Flies, written by Willam Golding, is a novel documenting a group of English boys stranded on a tropical island during a global war. Some of the boys quickly resort to a more primal instinct while the others try to maintain a civil environment. The primitive boys proceed to destroy the balance of the island that so graciously saved them. Through his characterization of Jack and the symbolism associated with the Island, William Golding demonstrates that humans corrupt the purity of nature.

Jack’s stay on the island causes him to become more savage and uncivilized. Jack is brutal and violent, and these behaviors cause him to distance himself from Ralph, and thus civilization. After Ralph tries to reiterate the rules, Jack argues, speaking against Ralph and confesses to his savage nature: “Bollocks to the rules! We're strong – we hunt! If there's a beast, we'll hunt it down! We'll close in and beat and beat and beat - !” (91). Jack is a savage in the sense that he is uncontrollable. He no longer considers civility, thinking that barbarism is more important than order and rules in a society. Jack's outburst demonstrates his growing hunger for a more primitive society rather than Ralph's civil and refined society. As Jack, Ralph and the other boys search the mountains looking for the beast, they successfully find and kill a pig. After its death, they recreate the scene and flaunt their contributions to the sows brutal murder: “Jack had him by the hair and was brandishing his knife. Behind him was Roger, fighting to get close. The chant rose ritually, as at the last moment of a dance or a hunt. ““Kill the pig! Cut his throat! Kill the pig! Bash him in!”” (114). The chant symbolises the boy's violent and primitive sentiment. The chant is reminiscent of a war chant, and the repetition of the statement throughout the novel helps illustrate their ritualistic tendencies. Jack leads the hunters, and his sadism is spread to the others, forming a sort of mob mentality. After separating with Ralph, Jack and his posse hunt for pigs. They surround the mother pig and proceed to brutally murder her: “Jack was on top of the sow, stabbing downward with his knife….The spear moved forward inch by inch and the terrified squealing became a high pitched scream. Then Jack found the throat and the hot blood spouted over his hands” (135). Jack expresses his violent nature on those that surround him. This includes the sow. The brutality in her death shows the sadistic and primitive intentions of Jack. He enjoys hurting the pig, and thinks of her death as a game rather than a matter of life and death. Jack’s violent and savage nature develops during his time on the island. He spreads his dangerous antics to those who support him, affecting his surroundings.

The island is a pure haven that supplies the boys with plentiful food and water. It protects the boys, allowing them to survive with relative ease. It has plenty of fruit trees, and Simon takes note of this as he treks into the forest: “He walked with an accustomed tread through the acres of fruit trees, where the least energetic could find an easy if unsatisfying meal” (56). The island's plentiful supply of food, which takes little effort to harvest, is utilized by everyone. The lush vegetation and easy to access food source makes a perfect place for the boys to survive. When the boys crash onto the island, Ralph takes in the natural beauty and purity that the island showcases: “Ralph said nothing. Here was a coral island. Protected from the sun, ignoring Piggy’s ill-omened talk, he dreamed pleasantly” (15). The island protects its inhabitants, providing a safe place far from the dangers of the real world. It is like the Garden of Eden with it’s lush, green environments that shelter its inhabitants and provide everything they need. When Piggy and Ralph summon the other boys using the conch for the first time, they notice the island is full of life: “Ralph’s face was dark with breathlessness and the air over the island was full of bird-clamor and echoes ringing” (17). The island is full of natural life that does not seem to have been disturbed. The island's pure and isolated environment protects the boys and the generous island lends its natural resources to the boys.

Humans corrupt the purity of nature. The island is a pure, untouched land free from the impurities of society. When the boys crash land, they create a scar, disrupting the pure and lush environment. Throughout his stay on the island, Jack is intent on hunting and killing the pig. When he finally kills the sow, he brutally butchers it, decapitating and gutting the innocent animal. The pure and innocuous nature of the animal is violently corrupted by humans. The pig is a physical representation of the uncontaminated disposition of nature. The island’s clean and fertile environment is drastically destroyed by the boys. The island’s lush vegetation is generous to the boys, giving them food and shelter. In turn, the boys destroy the island by burning half the island and destroying its native wildlife. The inherent corruption in all humans is made apparent by the damage caused to the island during the boy's stay.

The actions of man greatly influence the state of nature. In Lord of the Flies, the secluded island environment reverts the boys back to a more savage state. Because of their impulsive and violent condition, the barbarous boys disrupt the purity of nature. The mark the boys have left on the island will be permanent and the island's once pristine complexion is now darkened with the stain of man.