Lord Of The Flies Totalitarianism Analysis

Totalitarianism is a form of government often lead by one powerful leader that controls all aspects of society. But, what allows this oppressive form of government to succeed? In William Golding's novel, Lord of the Flies, Jack is a boy who likes to have control. And, to do that he creates a mold with rules that every boy has to fit into. Jack reflects the qualities of a totalitarian ruler, and makes totalitarianism successful by taking advantage of the fear the boys have on the island.

The origin of fear and totalitarianism on the island is portrayed from the start of the novel. When the boys' plane has crashed, there are already elements of fear on the island. William Golding uses Piggy to portray the fear when Piggy says to Ralph,"‘This is an island. Nobody don't know we're here' (…) His

Jack: "‘First, you know now, we've seen the beast" (Golding 125). Jack further confirms the boys' fears that there is a "beast" out there. He also makes it hard for the boys not to believe that Jack has seen the beast since he uses the word "we've" meaning there are other accounts of people seeing the beast on the mountain. And, even though the reader knows that there is not a beast out there, the boys do not know that, and it strengthens the fear they have on this island. Later Jack manipulates the fearful environment to create his own "tribe," structured around totalitarianism. At one point in his manipulation, Jack proclaims, "‘Who's going to join my tribe?'(…)‘I gave you food, (…) and my hunters will protect you from the beast" (Golding, 150). He uses the fear of not being able to provide food for oneself and protect oneself from the "beast" to get the boys conform to his totalitarian tribal government. Since the two things he offers are necessary to survival, it makes it hard to not want to join his tribe. Thus making totalitarianism successful on the