LOTF Final essay By Parker Fenton The dangers of groupthink and mob mentality are one theme of William Golding's novel "Lord of the Flies" This theme is visible in the way the boys on the island soon form into groups and become united in their decision making in the way they establish their opinions and ideas of the "beast" figure which represents the influence of fear and the drive for wanting to be saved. The way the boys on the island soon form into groups and join together in their decision making is one reason this theme is true in the book. The boys divide into two major groups as the story goes on. the hunters, led by Jack, and the "civilized" group led by Ralph. Each group strengthens its commitment to its core motives as they come to agree on actions and choices. In the end this mob mentality and groupthink result in hostility and violence between the two groups. Text evidence states "Which is better to be a pack of painted Indians like you are or to …show more content…
The boys grow more and more angry toward one another as well as less and less open to hearing other people's viewpoints or perspectives. This limited and unwillingness to take other perspectives worsens the island's conflict and bloodshed. Text evidence states "I'm not going to play any longer. Not with you." (Golding, 1954, Chapter 6) The "beast" character which stands for the strength of fear and the urge for conformity further supports the theme of the dangers of groupthink and mob mentality. The boys adapt to the group's views and behaviors even when they may not agree with them since they believe in the beast and are afraid of it. On the island this problem fuels more conflict and bloodshed. Text evidence states "We've got to have rules and stick to them. After all, we're not savages. We're English, and the English are best at everything." (Golding, 1954, Chapter
A character who uses fear as his biggest strength shows the boys he is the most dangerous amongst the others on the island. “ See? See? That’s what you’ll get! There isn’t a tribe for you anymore!
In the novel, the boys were split up into two groups, the hunters and the builders. Ralph was the overall leader and Jack was the person in charge of his choir who are supposed to hunt and protect the rest. Leadership is dismantled between the boys when Jack decides to abandon the tribe and states "I'm going off by myself. He can catch his own pigs. Anyone who wants to hunt when can come too" (Golding, 1962).
Simon’s role in Lord of the Flies is to resemble a Christ-like figure, when he eventually dies, the buried savagery in the boys is revealed. Simon is killed in a gruesome matter, which at the time the boys had “leapt on to beast, screamed, bit, struck, tore” (Golding 153). A group of children had decided to take it upon themselves to have a wonderful time tearing up another boy in the name of fun. The way in which the boys had killed Simon shows that they did not care whether or not they had weapons, the group had shown no mercy to the exhausted Simon. After Simon’s demise, two of the most innocent boys have a conversation of the previous night, that “‘It was an accident…
Lord of the Flies Quote Study Throughout “Lord of the Flies” many of the characters seem to revert to a more primitive animalistic way of living. The reversion in the characters seems to be caused by a lack of civilization. During the sixth chapter, the uncivilized behavior of some of the boys becomes apparent when the conch, a tool used for calling order, is disregarded “‘conch, conch!’ shouted Jack. ‘We don’t need the conch anymore’”.
They decided on how they are going to live in an orderly environment and to maintain survival. The boys also agreed on ideas that will lead themselves to survival. But conflict started to occur between the young boys which lead these boys to a separation between the group. They became very hatred with one another and started to cause violence between the group of boys. They developed savagery as the hatred from the groups started to get to them.
Tensions begin to arise as Jack, the hunter, has different views on how to survive on the island then Ralph does. Jack gains momentum to be leader as most of the other boys on the island want to hunt. Jack creates his own tribe with the littleluns and Ralph and Piggy are in the other
Sophia Klocke Ms. Stephenson English 9 Bell 5 6 February 2023 The Lord of the Flies Essay Everyone knows and loves the book Lord of the Flies but is there a defined reason why it's called Lord of the Flies? One day a plane crashes and only British boys aged 6-12 survive. they are left to survive on their own with no parental control. One thing that sticks out throughout the book is the beast, which all the children on the island are scared of.
They soon adapt, and learn the ways of the island. They find out how to make fires, and build shelters. Yet as the days go by, they quickly learn about a mysterious beast lurking nearby. Soon their natural instincts change. Golding suggests that violence is overwhelming because makes you act peculiarly different when you usually wouldn’t, as shown through the beast.
In chapter 8 of the book, the group splits up because of an argument between Jack and Ralph. In the beginning of the story, Ralph made Jack the leader of the hunters, and now Jack wants to be the leader of the entire group. Although Ralph has everyones best interest at heart, some of the boys (the hunters)
The Power of Mob Mentality Friedrich Nietzsche once said, "When a hundred men stand together, each of them loses his mind and gets another one." In William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, the group of boys gradually succumb to mob mentality as their rationality and individuality fades away, starting an uncontrollable first fire and involving themselves in the brutal killing of Simon and hunt for Ralph until it paves the way for the disastrous consequences of their actions. The success of the group's first fire on the island proves to be a critical turning point in the boy’s behavior on the island as it marks the start of their gradual decline into mob mentality and reckless behavior. After Ralph declares their plans for rescue, the boys eagerly
Power on the island The symbolism in William Golding Lord of the Flies focuses on a group of young British boys who are lost on an island after their plane crash lands. During the novel the author uses literary devices to help reveal the theme of power. The attack on Ralph's group in chapter 10 shows how power has had an impact between the boys through symbolism and foreshadowing. There are many important objects and people who play a role during this war.
(Golding. 156) This quote shows the savagery that takes control of them in the right situation and because of it, a
Human nature is showing off savagery in the book The Lord of the Flies . In Lord of the Flies Golding shows that human nature is essentially bad through the characterization of Jack , Sam and Eric , and Roger. These characters symbolize a savagery nature that can be brought out by people due to anger, hate, or any other factors that can anger anyone else. The character Jack, is a good example of human savagery because in the story when they start killing animals it gives him the drive for blood and power.
Antoine Nguyen period D LOTF Essay The Lord of the Flies by William Golding the beast an idea that one little boys created as a fear leads the boys to chaos and destruction. These boys who were once peaceful turn into savages who murder and torture their own. In the Lord of The flies the beast is more than it seems, the beast shows the violence hatred and evil in humans and alone on the island the boys not stranded by society rules turn to inner hatred within. In The Lord of the Flies The boys show traces psychopathic behavior, this behavior goes unnoticed and shows the darkness the boys have.
Fear of a dangerous creature on an island leads the boys to do unexpected things, from turning against each other to killing one another. Jack, a prideful boy, even took advantage of this to control others and guide them into making decisions to his benefit. The group of boys live in relative harmony, taking orders from Ralph, an elected leader, but when this new sighted beast shows up, Ralph witnesses the group falling apart with mass panic, “In a moment the platform was full of arguing, gesticulating shadows. To Ralph, seated, this seemed the breaking up of sanity. Fear, beasts, no general agreement that the fire was all-important: and when one tried to get the thing straight the argument sheered off, bringing up fresh, unpleasant matter” (Golding 88).