Themes

Good and Evil

• The island appears to be a paradise, similar to the Garden of Eden, but the boys bring evil into it, just as Adam and Eve brought sin into the world.
• The novel explores how people can be both good and evil.
• Simon represents goodness, while Roger represents evil.
• Jack becomes more brutal and cruel as the story progresses.
• Goodness is linked to friendship, democracy, and civilisation, while evil is connected to savagery, violence, and corruption.

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Civilisation and Savagery

• Civilisation is symbolised by the boys' memories of their homes in Britain, where they had rules, order, and security.
• Ralph wants to maintain civilisation and hopes for rescue through the smoke signal.
• Savagery is linked to violence and cruelty.
  • William Golding conveys a message of non-violence, showing the dangers of savagery.

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Innocence and Corruption

• Innocence is associated with goodness and an ignorance of the evil in human nature.
• The boys' innocence fades as the novel progresses:
  • Ralph starts as a hopeful leader but realises the harshness of leadership.
  • In Chapter 7, even he acts violently, attacking a boar.
  • By Chapter 12, he weeps for the loss of innocence.
• Corruption occurs when individuals abuse power or neglect the group's well-being.
  • Jack's innocence is corrupted by power, leading him to become violent and cruel.

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Order and Disorder

• Order represents civilisation and democracy, where rules help people work together.
  • Example: The conch ensures everyone speaks fairly during meetings.
• Too much order can be oppressive.
  • Jack enforces more rules than Ralph, but they are meant to control rather than protect the boys.
• Disorder leads to chaos and savagery.

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Leadership

• The novel contrasts two leadership styles: democracy vs. dictatorship.
• Ralph is a democratic leader who values fairness and responsibility.
• Jack is a dictator who enjoys power and control over others.

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Power

• Power is the authority to make decisions and enforce rules.
• In a democracy, power comes from the people who elect a leader.
  • Ralph is initially chosen as leader, but most boys later follow Jack.
• Jack abuses power, acting as a dictator.
• Weapons and physical strength also represent power.
  • Example: Jack's knife gives him the power to kill the pig.

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Wisdom

• Wisdom is a mix of knowledge, experience, and good judgement.
• Simon and Piggy are wise characters.
• Both are killed, suggesting that wisdom is often ignored in times of chaos and violence.

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Fear

• Fear leads to irrational behaviour and violence.
• The boys fear the unknown beast, which fuels their panic and savagery.
  • Even Jack, a strong hunter, feels uneasy in the forest (Chapter 3).

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