... so farfetched helps amplify the dark nature of the story. It forces the reader to see that the darkness is inside them, too. The story itself is a parody of the classic British children's story Coral Island by R. M. Ballantyne. In this story, three boys, Ralph, Jack, and Peterkin, find themselves marooned on an island. They struggle against cannibals, pirates and wild animals ... to screw things up. Golding also uses darkness to symbolize the lack of the controlling effect of civilization on the boys. As Ralph realizes that SamnEric have betrayed him he notes "If it had been light, sham...

• Word Count: 4223
• Approx Pages: 17
• Grade Level: High School