Good And Evil In William Golding's Lord Of The Flies

Society often chooses to believe that all humans have a conscience, and that all people know the difference between good and bad. Life is full of events that cannot be controlled or planned. Sometimes the twists and turns of life will blur the line between good and bad. Lord of the Flies, written by William Golding, tells the tale of a group of boys who survive a plane crash that lands them on a deserted island. The boys must adapt to their situation and try to remain civilized. As time goes on, some of the boys’ conscience fades away. Golding illustrates the idea of good and evil through the characters. The essential theme of the novel is that all humans have a little evil inside of them is articulated by Jack, Ralph, and Roger. In the beginning, Jack still has a moral sense, but it quickly dwindles away. The boys realize that they must create a society, and assign different roles for each person, such as hunting, shelter, and starting a fire. During their meeting, Ralph takes charge since he has the conch. After he speaks, Jack says, “We’ve got to have rules and obey them. After all, we’re English, and the English are best at everything. So we’ve got to do the right things” (42). The words spoken by Jack early on show that he is still in a stable state of mind. Jack’s outlook on good versus bad, however, deteriorates as the hunt for food starts. He encounters a pig during his first outing, but things do not go as planned: “I thought I might kill. But I shall! Next