Within each and every human being, an animal-like instinct dwells. No matter how civil or well mannered one may live, deep inside lies a savage waiting to be released. If given the right situation or placed in the right environment, this innate, savage behaviour can overpower a person's sense of common civil behaviour and turn an otherwise civil human being, into a savage beast. In the following essay, such topics will be discussed as to how the novel "Lord of the Flies" is a great example of conflict regarding humanity and society. As well, an explanation as to how the island is a representation of the world itself.
The main theme behind the "Lord of the Flies" is the conflict between humane behaviour and savage behaviour. As the novel begins, a small group of British boys strive to construct their own society on the island. The chose a leader, set specific rules and give certain jobs to members of their society. As the novel progresses, so do the behaviour of the boys. Individual groups are formed, and the society that they strive to build, begins to fall. Eventually, savagery takes a hold of the boys" conscious mind and the inner beast is pulled out by the surroundings. The boys fear a "beast" on the island, but later it is revealed that the beast is merely a figure of their own imaginations; created by their own fears. The beast is a creature that dwells far beneath their learned life styles. The beast grew and developed into the inner savage that haunts all human beings at one time or another. The boys begin to de-evolve to a more primitive state of mind as hunting and killing become the majority of the boys" objectives on the island.
In the novel, Golding emphasizes that in such an event where a human being becomes isolated from society, law, and order, the inner savage will eventually take hold and control the mind. Each boy on the island, no matter how hard he tries to grip to his taught civil behaviour, the inner "beast" within him takes over in some way.
