Golding’s method of presentation is quite realistic in the sense of human nature. He focuses on the primitive senses of hunting and destroying, qualities that are inherent in every man. “Tomorrow,” went on the chief, “We shall hunt again.” He pointed at the savage with his spear” (Golding 160). This reflects his sinister views on the true human nature of men. “Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood! The tribe was dancing. Some where on the other side of this rocky wall there would be a dark circle, a glowing fire, and meat. They would be savoring food and the comfort of safety” (186)
The point of view in The Lord of the Flies is primarily third person omniscient. “The three boys sat down. They had a great mass of fruit with them and all of it properly ripe. They grinned at Ralph as he took some and began to eat” (132). This point of view allows him to freely speak through whichever character he chooses. Rather than forcing impressions on the reader, Golding presents the facts to the reader, allowing the reader to form their own impressions. Golding primarily speaks through the character of Ralph, but sometimes follows another character. Rather than forcing impressions on the reader, Golding presents the facts to the reader, allowing the reader to form their own impressions. Golding tends to switch to third person limited at the end of the novel, drawing the reader closer into the thoughts of the character. “Break the line. A tree. Hide and let them pass. Hide was better than a tree because you had a chance of breaking the line if you were discovered” (196).
Throughout Golding’s novels, a few idiosyncrasies stand out. One is Golding’s abundant use of imagery. “And in the middle of them, with filthy body, matted hair, and unwiped nose, Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart, and the fall through the air of the true, wise friend called Piggy” (202). Imagery is essential in Golding’s novels, for it allows the author to further convey his thoughts to the reader. Golding’s use of syntax is also common. He tends to use long sentences when describing peaceful situations, such as the scenery of the island, and shorter sentences when he is describing periods of tension or violence. “The beast moved to – that was awful. It kind of sat up – The fire was bright – We’d just made it up – more sticks on – there were eyes – teeth – claws” (100). He frequently uses dashes to create shorter sentences, and commas to elongate thoughts.
The Lord of the Flies owes much of its success to the clever writing style of its author. Not only does William Golding employ the use of a certain point of view, third person omniscient, he uses interpretations on human nature to realistically present crucial situations to the reader. He uses several literary devices, such as imagery and sentence syntax, which stand out in many of his novels and help convey his feelings to the reader. These combined aspects make The Lord of the Flies a masterpiece.
