Social Attitudes

Class Differences

• Characters in the novel display negative attitudes towards those from different social backgrounds.
• These attitudes reflect what the boys have learned from adult society.
• Upper-class characters (wealthier individuals) often see themselves as superior and look down on the lower class.

Examples:

• Piggy comes from a working-class family (low income).
• Ralph comes from a wealthier family—his father is a military officer.
• The choirboys come from private schools, indicating upper-class status.

British Superiority and Racism

• At the end of the novel, the naval officer expresses disappointment in the boys' behaviour.
• This suggests he believes British schoolboys should be more civilised than others.
• The novel reflects Western ideas of superiority over other cultures.

Language in the novel reinforces this attitude:

• The word "savage" is used to describe wild, uneducated, and cruel people.
• Historically, some Westerners labelled black people as "savages", showing a lack of respect.
• Piggy's phrase "painted niggers" reflects the way adults around him spoke, demonstrating racist influences in society.