The Author: William Golding

Background

• Born: 19 September 1911, Cornwall, England.
• Education: Studied English Literature at Oxford University.
• Career: Worked as a teacher before serving in the Royal Navy during World War II.
• Experiences in War: Witnessed the violence and destruction of war, which influenced his view on human nature.
• Writing Career: Published Lord of the Flies in 1954, his first and most famous novel.
• Awards: Won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1983.
• Died: 19 June 1993.

Influence on Lord of the Flies

• War and Human Nature: Golding's wartime experiences shaped his belief that humans have an inherent capacity for evil.
• Teaching Background: Working with children influenced his understanding of their behaviour, which is reflected in the novel.
• Philosophical Influence: Influenced by Hobbes' theory, which suggests that humans are naturally selfish and require structure to maintain order.

Themes in Golding's Work

• Civilisation vs. Savagery: Explores how society keeps human instincts in check.
• Loss of Innocence: Shows how children descend into violence when left without rules.
• Power and Control: Examines leadership and how it is used or abused.

Legacy

• Lord of the Flies remains a key text in English literature, studied worldwide.
• Golding's work continues to provoke discussions on morality, human nature, and society.