![]() This is the first true piece of violence between the two factions on the island and it will result in nearly all the boys becoming savages.Ī final way in which we see the theme of savagery versus civilisation being demonstrated is when Ralph sticks up for Piggy after he is attacked by Jack. Piggy’s glasses have also come to represent intelligence on the island, with them breaking we see that the pathway to savagery is now completely open for the boys. ![]() Piggy sounds like he is hurting and is genuinely terrified about what Jack might do to him and the loss of his sight. We can tell that Piggy is really scared as Golding chooses the words “cried” and “terror” to describe the scene. At the start of the book Jack would never have dared touch Piggy, but here he actually snaps and goes for Piggy who he despises. We are told “Piggy cried out in terror ‘my specs!” This shows us that the boys savage natures are beginning to overule their more civilised sides. We can see the conflict between savagery and civilisation developing further when Piggy’s glasses are broken. This shows that the boys are no longer feeling guilty about what they have done thus showing them becoming savages. Jack talks about cutting the pig’s throat which makes it sound like a savage action and spilling her blood which reinforces the lack of care and feeling shown towards the pug’s carcass. This is particularly clear through Golding’s word choice. This suggests savagery as the boys are being violent and aggressive when killing the pig and they don’t care about it. Jack chants “kill the pig, cut her throat, spill the blood”. One of ways Golding shows conflict between savagery and civilisation is when Jack and some of the other boys are killing the first pig. The boys belief in the beast leads them to behave more like savages as they act out from their fear and they begin to loose hold of the rules, led by Jack, thus demonstrating the theme of savagery. He has a strong status as a Lord although it is over something pretty disgusting – the flies. As the boys fear of the beast grows so to does the beast itself until it has manifested into the devil – the ultimate and most powerful evil. However at this stage of the novel the beast is quite insubstantial as it is only a “thing”. Western society considers snakes to be bad omens because it was a snake that led Eve to eat from the tree of knowledge. The first quote shows us that the beast is clearly evil. The beast begins as a “snake thing” but by the end of the novel it has become “the Lord of the Flies”. ![]() The boys have created the island to be a democratic place which shows a civilised side to them as they try to mimic the homes they have just left.Ĭontrasting with the symbol of the conch is the symbol of the beast which comes to be associated with Jack as by the end of the novel he is almost devil worshipping it. If they have the conch, no matter who they are or what age they are they will be given the chance to speak and will be listened to by the rest of the boys. ![]() This suggests civilisation as Ralph is allowing each boy to have an equal say and opinion. At the first assembly Ralph says “I’ll give the conch to the next person to speak…he won’t be interrupted”. This symbolises authority amongst the boys. The theme of savagery versus civilisation is first introduced to us through the symbol of the conch shell which we associate with Ralph as he is the person who first uses it and becomes the elected leader of the boys. This has an effect on the rest of the boys throughout the novel as they delve further and further into savagery. On the island we see conflict between two main characters, Jack and Ralph, who respectively represent civilisation and savagery. Some British boys are stranded on an isolated island at the time of an imaginary nuclear war. The Lord of the Flies by William Golding is a novel in which the theme of savagery versus civilisation is explored. Explain how the author develops this theme throughout the novel. Choose a novel in which an important theme is explored. ![]()
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