rosann17
May 14, 2012
Book Reports / 40 minute essay question on `Lord of the Flies` re civilisation. [2]
I would like to know if my writing is a good enough to get me the top grades. My teacher said i might need to analyse the use of language more however she also said she didn't know as it's a new exam bored.
How does Golding present civilization in the novel `Lord of the Flies`?
Golding suggests, through the characters and events of this novel that acting civilised is a custom that is adopted by society, however he also suggests that civilisation itself may not be as strong as some would like to think.
At first, we see Golding present civilisation as something that binds all the boys to a sense of right and wrong. In chapter one the first thing Ralph and Piggy suggest is "we should have a meeting". That this comes to Ralph so instinctively suggests that they are used to a world of order and communication. This is further proven by Ralph announcing to the other boys that they must have "hands up, like at school". Piggy is insistent on taking names and this sense of giving everyone an identity connects them further to civilisation.
The sense of civilisation giving all the boys a sense of right and wrong is seen clearly when Roger throws stone at the little`un playing in the sea; Roger does not "dare throw within a 5 foot radius" of the boy because of the sense of parents, teachers and law. We see Jack as being proud of civilisation and acts to defend it when he says "We're not savages: We're English!" this could suggest that Golding is idolising the British and saying that the Nazis in the second world war, when this novel was set, were real savages. However, a more subtle reading could suggest that, because the words "We're English" comes after the talk of savagery that Golding is mocking this idea and is really saying that the English should not be excused from the savagery that went on in the war.
As the novel progresses, Golding presents civilisation as something that is over-ridden by savagery. This is shown by the deterioration of Golding's use of language: the boys start to use slang and abbreviations more frequently. Also, at the beginning of the novel, Percival recites his full name and the majority of his address and in the final chapter he fails to even remember his name and this loss of identity suggests the breakdown of civilisation. In chapter five, we see civilisation deteriorate when the meeting breaks down. The conch, which has so far been a symbol of the boys' civilisation, takes longer and longer to make the other boys listen which suggests that civilisation is weak and savagery is a stronger force. This is further proven by the descriptions of the conch throughout the novel: Golding goes from describing it as "powerful" to describing it as "pale" and "delicate" which again suggests civilisation is being lost. In chapter 5, Jack's attitude towards the conch and civilisation changes from defending the English as not being savage, to saying "bollocks to the rules" and the breakdown in his language suggests that savagery is beginning to become present in him.
Jack introduces the idea of wearing masks whilst hunting and Golding describes him as "hiding behind it". Whilst the mask itself does not represent civilisation, it could represent how the boys have been `hiding behind` civilisation and the masks are showing what is really inside them. The masks also seem to give the boys more confidence, as the first time Jack and his "hunters" succeed in killing a pig they are wearing masks and here Golding is presenting civilisation as something that is easily forgotten or painted over (in the sense of the masks).
Finally, Golding presents civilisation as something that is completely worthless in the face of savagery. We see pure acts of savagery from the boys when they kill Simon and Piggy. Simon could be seen as representing spirituality and he is the only boy on the island that has the ability to see inside himself and recognise that the "beast" is actually the savagery of the boys (we see this when he says that "maybe there is a beast? Maybe it's just us?" in chapter 5). It is ironic that when Simon is trying to tell the others boys the truth about the beast, they `become` the beast (Golding describes the boys as "a single organism" with a "gaping mouth" which suggests a `beast` that is alive) and eventually kill him. Also, Roger is the only person to individually commits murder when he pushes the rock that kills Piggy. That Piggy dies at the same time the conch is broken represents the complete loss of civilisation. Here, Golding could be suggesting that thought (Piggy) and spirituality (Simon) are weak in the face of savagery, and that civilisation cannot exist on its own.
In chapter 12 when the naval officer arrives, it could appear that the boys' savagery has gone when they are reminded of adult authority. However, the references to the officer carrying a gun, and the war ship that is waiting could suggest that even the adults are savage; they just have a more socially accepted savagery in the form of War. This would suggest that Golding is presenting civilisation as something that even adults, can easily abandon given the right circumstances.
Overall, the changes through the novel and the way the boys react to being allowed to access their inner savagery suggests that Golding's message is that civilisation is simply a mask for what human nature really is. Golding suggests that all human's (both children and adults) have innate savagery and that `civilisation` is a facade that society has created to allow savagery to be acceptable in certain forms and circumstances. The fact that Golding witnessed and took part in the war, may have made him realise his own innate ability to kill and act savage. Golding had strong religious views as a Christian and was able to recognise "human's essential illness" - as was Simon in the novel, who could be seen as Golding's spokesperson.
I would like to know if my writing is a good enough to get me the top grades. My teacher said i might need to analyse the use of language more however she also said she didn't know as it's a new exam bored.
How does Golding present civilization in the novel `Lord of the Flies`?
Golding suggests, through the characters and events of this novel that acting civilised is a custom that is adopted by society, however he also suggests that civilisation itself may not be as strong as some would like to think.
At first, we see Golding present civilisation as something that binds all the boys to a sense of right and wrong. In chapter one the first thing Ralph and Piggy suggest is "we should have a meeting". That this comes to Ralph so instinctively suggests that they are used to a world of order and communication. This is further proven by Ralph announcing to the other boys that they must have "hands up, like at school". Piggy is insistent on taking names and this sense of giving everyone an identity connects them further to civilisation.
The sense of civilisation giving all the boys a sense of right and wrong is seen clearly when Roger throws stone at the little`un playing in the sea; Roger does not "dare throw within a 5 foot radius" of the boy because of the sense of parents, teachers and law. We see Jack as being proud of civilisation and acts to defend it when he says "We're not savages: We're English!" this could suggest that Golding is idolising the British and saying that the Nazis in the second world war, when this novel was set, were real savages. However, a more subtle reading could suggest that, because the words "We're English" comes after the talk of savagery that Golding is mocking this idea and is really saying that the English should not be excused from the savagery that went on in the war.
As the novel progresses, Golding presents civilisation as something that is over-ridden by savagery. This is shown by the deterioration of Golding's use of language: the boys start to use slang and abbreviations more frequently. Also, at the beginning of the novel, Percival recites his full name and the majority of his address and in the final chapter he fails to even remember his name and this loss of identity suggests the breakdown of civilisation. In chapter five, we see civilisation deteriorate when the meeting breaks down. The conch, which has so far been a symbol of the boys' civilisation, takes longer and longer to make the other boys listen which suggests that civilisation is weak and savagery is a stronger force. This is further proven by the descriptions of the conch throughout the novel: Golding goes from describing it as "powerful" to describing it as "pale" and "delicate" which again suggests civilisation is being lost. In chapter 5, Jack's attitude towards the conch and civilisation changes from defending the English as not being savage, to saying "bollocks to the rules" and the breakdown in his language suggests that savagery is beginning to become present in him.
Jack introduces the idea of wearing masks whilst hunting and Golding describes him as "hiding behind it". Whilst the mask itself does not represent civilisation, it could represent how the boys have been `hiding behind` civilisation and the masks are showing what is really inside them. The masks also seem to give the boys more confidence, as the first time Jack and his "hunters" succeed in killing a pig they are wearing masks and here Golding is presenting civilisation as something that is easily forgotten or painted over (in the sense of the masks).
Finally, Golding presents civilisation as something that is completely worthless in the face of savagery. We see pure acts of savagery from the boys when they kill Simon and Piggy. Simon could be seen as representing spirituality and he is the only boy on the island that has the ability to see inside himself and recognise that the "beast" is actually the savagery of the boys (we see this when he says that "maybe there is a beast? Maybe it's just us?" in chapter 5). It is ironic that when Simon is trying to tell the others boys the truth about the beast, they `become` the beast (Golding describes the boys as "a single organism" with a "gaping mouth" which suggests a `beast` that is alive) and eventually kill him. Also, Roger is the only person to individually commits murder when he pushes the rock that kills Piggy. That Piggy dies at the same time the conch is broken represents the complete loss of civilisation. Here, Golding could be suggesting that thought (Piggy) and spirituality (Simon) are weak in the face of savagery, and that civilisation cannot exist on its own.
In chapter 12 when the naval officer arrives, it could appear that the boys' savagery has gone when they are reminded of adult authority. However, the references to the officer carrying a gun, and the war ship that is waiting could suggest that even the adults are savage; they just have a more socially accepted savagery in the form of War. This would suggest that Golding is presenting civilisation as something that even adults, can easily abandon given the right circumstances.
Overall, the changes through the novel and the way the boys react to being allowed to access their inner savagery suggests that Golding's message is that civilisation is simply a mask for what human nature really is. Golding suggests that all human's (both children and adults) have innate savagery and that `civilisation` is a facade that society has created to allow savagery to be acceptable in certain forms and circumstances. The fact that Golding witnessed and took part in the war, may have made him realise his own innate ability to kill and act savage. Golding had strong religious views as a Christian and was able to recognise "human's essential illness" - as was Simon in the novel, who could be seen as Golding's spokesperson.