Prompt: 2008, Form B. In some works of literature, childhood and adolescence are portrayed as times graced by innocence and a sense of wonder; in other works, they are depicted as times of tribulation and terror. Focusing on a single novel or play, explain how its representation of childhood or adolescence shapes the meaning of the work as a whole.
William Golding’s Lord of the Flies portrays the childhood years very differently from the way that they are commonly perceived. Golding clearly holds a view that the childhood years are marked by tribulation and terror. In his novel, Golding shows that children are not inherently good and innocent, but instead quite the contrary. William appears to believe that the human race is inherently evil, and without the constraints of society's expectations, this inner-evil will bubble to the surface and show its face.
In Lord of the Flies a group of British school students are involved in a plane crash, leaving the kids stranded on an island to fend for themselves. The children’s actions and decisions mirror the adult world despite the difference in maturity and age. The kid's immediately try to set up rules and regulations to mirror the rules that the government and their parents place on them. They show the desire for order through this however as they are stranded and isolated from society for longer and longer, the children decide to show their true colors and rebel. The main character, Ralph attempts to maintain order but human nature interferes. The kids separate themselves into two tribes: one led by Ralph, and the other by Jack. Eventually animalistic tribal warfare erupts and many characters are killed. There is a great forrest fire on the island which represents the eruption of complete chaos erupts. This again mirrors the adult society as this story takes place in the midst of World War II. The children were fleeing the war, however their human nature drove them back to war.
The parallels between the children stranded on the island and the adults in the rest of the world give a frightening insight on the nature of humans. Golding was clearly trying to show that humans are inherently evil. The terror that resulted on the island shows that children, if not properly socialized by society will revert to their roots. The difference between the children and the adults is that the adults have been socialized by society to behave a certain way. The children are representative of the result of those left in isolation of society and not properly socialized to behave the way that society expects. The children begin the way that society expects of them: with rules and order. However the children soon turn against the societal norm and chaos erupts. The only children that were truly innocent in the novel were killed (the young boy and Piggy). This represents the animalistic and savage ways of society, and shows that adolescence is a time when children are stripped of their innocence.
The Lord of the Flies is a great example of a story in which the representation of childhoood and adolescence shape the meaning of the work as a whole. Golding clearly did not intend to make the story about children alone. The children are representative of the adult world as well. Golding attempted to show the evil ways of human nature, and savagery of society without the constraints of laws and order through the way the children acted when they were isolated from society.
William Golding’s Lord of the Flies portrays the childhood years very differently from the way that they are commonly perceived. Golding clearly holds a view that the childhood years are marked by tribulation and terror. In his novel, Golding shows that children are not inherently good and innocent, but instead quite the contrary. William appears to believe that the human race is inherently evil, and without the constraints of society's expectations, this inner-evil will bubble to the surface and show its face.
In Lord of the Flies a group of British school students are involved in a plane crash, leaving the kids stranded on an island to fend for themselves. The children’s actions and decisions mirror the adult world despite the difference in maturity and age. The kid's immediately try to set up rules and regulations to mirror the rules that the government and their parents place on them. They show the desire for order through this however as they are stranded and isolated from society for longer and longer, the children decide to show their true colors and rebel. The main character, Ralph attempts to maintain order but human nature interferes. The kids separate themselves into two tribes: one led by Ralph, and the other by Jack. Eventually animalistic tribal warfare erupts and many characters are killed. There is a great forrest fire on the island which represents the eruption of complete chaos erupts. This again mirrors the adult society as this story takes place in the midst of World War II. The children were fleeing the war, however their human nature drove them back to war.
The parallels between the children stranded on the island and the adults in the rest of the world give a frightening insight on the nature of humans. Golding was clearly trying to show that humans are inherently evil. The terror that resulted on the island shows that children, if not properly socialized by society will revert to their roots. The difference between the children and the adults is that the adults have been socialized by society to behave a certain way. The children are representative of the result of those left in isolation of society and not properly socialized to behave the way that society expects. The children begin the way that society expects of them: with rules and order. However the children soon turn against the societal norm and chaos erupts. The only children that were truly innocent in the novel were killed (the young boy and Piggy). This represents the animalistic and savage ways of society, and shows that adolescence is a time when children are stripped of their innocence.
The Lord of the Flies is a great example of a story in which the representation of childhoood and adolescence shape the meaning of the work as a whole. Golding clearly did not intend to make the story about children alone. The children are representative of the adult world as well. Golding attempted to show the evil ways of human nature, and savagery of society without the constraints of laws and order through the way the children acted when they were isolated from society.
Danny,
ReplyDeleteyou did a great job avoiding plot summary here (something I often have difficulty on).
I liked how you made sure to include the why in this piece. You clearly stated that the author intended to push through the idea that humans are inherently evil, and you used his portrayal of childhood as a the way he showed it. One thing that could still be improved is the repetitiveness of the essay, as you seem to have several repeat sentences that, if they were worded differently every time would provide some spice to the essay.
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