Theme of Survival in Lord of the Flies Essay Example

What is survival? The Lord of The Flies, written by William Golding, is a story about a group of young boys that is stranded on an uninhabited island. The oldest of these boys, being around twelve, have to take on the responsibility of leading people to survival and rescue. Throughout the novel, the group dissents and rescue no longer becomes their priority. All the boys have left is to survive. The main symbol in the novel is the fire on top of the mountain. This fire brings them the hope of rescue and security, but when that fire goes out, goals in the group shift. Golding uses symbols throughout the book to create meaning by having the fire represent how connected the boys are to civilization, having characters that show different perspectives to the situation, and having the setting and events of the book reflect the outside world.

The fire is the reader's way of realizing how connected the boys are to civilization and how that breaks down throughout the novel. “There’s another thing. We can help them to find us. So we must make smoke on top of the mountain. We must make a fire” (Golding 38). During the second chapter, the boys have explored the island and figured out that they are all alone, leading them to the conclusion that no one knows they are there either. Ralph’s first priority is to make a signal with the fire so that they can be easily rescued. This shows how the group is fixated on getting off of the island and making sure that they are safe. Shortly after, the fire goes out. “You let the fire go out. Jack checked, vaguely irritated by the irrelevance but too happy to let it worry him. We can light the fire again. You should have been with us, Ralph. We had a smashing time-” (Golding 69). Jack has just returned with most of the boys from a hunting trip after he let the fire go out. Ralph is very uninterested in their hunt because a ship had gone past, but there was no signal fire to secure their rescue. Jack’s response to Ralph evidently shows how his perspective and priorities while being on the island are already changing. He is slowly starting to care more about hunting and having a good time than getting off of the island. This quote is only two chapters ahead of when the decision to start a fire was made. Thus we see how rapidly some boys are becoming less connected to civilization and more entailed with the island.

Jack’s changing views emphasize how each of Golding’s characters have a different perspective on how to survive on the island. For instance; Ralph, a leader who is vocal and takes charge; Jack, an aggressive person who likes control and order; Piggy, an intellectual kid with useful ideas; and Simon, a shy, secretive person who keeps to himself. Each of these characters' personalities vary and they all have their own opinions on what to do throughout the novel. For example, “Only Piggy could have the intellectual daring to suggest moving the fire from the mountain” (Golding 129). In this scene, Piggy has realized that they cannot keep the fire on top of the mountain if that is where the ‘beast’ is. He is the only person to make this suggestion, which shows how he contributes ideas that help the group to maintain a signal for rescue. On the other hand, Jack has different views. “I gave you food,” said Jack, “and my hunters will protect you from the beast. Who will join my tribe?” (Golding 150). This proves how Jack is now only focused on survival. His only desire is to be chief of the group and lead them with his hunting skills. His willingness to be rescued has completely died out, leaving him to basically accept his life on the island. As these differences in characters break the boys apart, they become more violent and hostile.

The now violent events going on within the island are a direct symbol of the world going on around them. The boys ended up on the island after their plane crashed when trying to evacuate for safety, due to World War II. Golding uses the war that they were trying to be sheltered from to create their own war within themselves. The boys’ chant “Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood! Now out of the terror rose another desire, thick, urgent, blind” (Golding 152). The group has just found Simon and is chanting about killing him, showing how the very war going on around them has also started within them. They have no empathy towards Simon and brutally kill him, while wrapped up in a trance destructiveness. His death allows the reader to see how the things going on on the island no longer differ from what they were trying to get away from at the start of the novel. Additionally, it emphasizes the impact the island has had on them.

In conclusion, Golding utilizes many symbols throughout his novel to represent their goals, the differences in the character’s opinions, and the world around them. As the fire became less of a priority among the group, the reader can see the derailing of the boys’ connection to the real world. Everyone approaches a situation with a different view, and Golding symbolized that through his own characters by having them all vary in their personalities. The world the boys were trying to stay away from became the very world they lived in because of their escalating violence and need to survive. In summary, Golding’s use of symbols throughout Lord of The Flies emphasize the descent into savagery that the boys experienced. Therefore, what is survival?