No rules leads to chaos - Lord of the flies

        Children do not have the ability to organize and manage their lives. Children are not capable of controlling others without adult supervision and help. They cannot make other children listen to them. “In a moment the platform was full of arguing, gesticulating shadows. To Ralph, seated, this seemed the breaking-up of sanity…when one tried to get the thing straight the argument sheered off, bringing up fresh, unpleasant matter.” (Golding 95). Because Ralph is not an adult, he does not have the power or authority to control and discipline the other children. He cannot punish them, and therefore they do not take him seriously. Children cannot make rules for other children to follow, and even attempts at creating symbols of power do now work. Since only adults who have power seem to be able to control children, symbols made by children as an attempt to make them listen cannot.  Even if there are symbols of power that children are directed to respect, they will not listen if there is not an adult to discipline and control them. “ ‘I got the conch’ ‘Conch! Conch!’ shouted Jack, ‘we don’t need the conch any more.’” (Golding 110-111) Ralph tries to control the boys by making the conch a symbol of power that they must respect, but because there is no discipline, the boys will not respect the rule. Even trying to give the boys things to do so that they can be controlled does not work. The boys attempt to organize themselves by creating tasks for everyone to do, but because they are only children, they are incapable of organizing and disciplining themselves. “ ‘I was chief; and you were going to do what I said. You talk, but you can’t even build huts-then you go off hunting and let out the fire-.’” (Golding 74) Ralph tries to keep the boys busy by giving them tasks, like managing the fire, and building huts, but because they are only children, all they want to do is play. Ralph cannot force them to do these things because he is not an adult, and he cannot discipline them. These points reflect how rules are essential to maintain organization, and keep peoples’ lives running smoothly.

        A lack of rules allows for the transformation into savages. War paint causes the boys to forget who they are, how they should act, and start to behave like savages. “He capered towards Bill and the mask was a thing on is own, behind which Jack hid, liberated from shame and self-consciousness…The mask compelled them.” (Golding 66-67). Because the boys have no rules, and nothing to keep them organized, putting on war paint turns into savages. War paint is not the only thing that causes the boys to be savage-like, their feeling and emotions cause this as well. A lack of rules makes the boys forget their morals and customs, and become excited, which transforms them into savages. “ The movement became regular while the chant lost its first superficial excitement and began to beat like a steady pulse…The chant rose in a tone in agony. ‘Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood!’ Now out of the terror rose another desire, thick, urgent, blind.” (Golding 168). The boys have no rules to keep them under control, and keep them calm. Because of this, they start to dance around the fire, scream, chant and act without thinking. The boys’ emotions can also cause them to turn into deranged killers. When the boys are excited, and there are no rules or discipline to stop them, they start to kill like savages without thinking. “ At once the crowd surged after it, poured down on the rock, leapt on to the beast, screamed, struck, bit, tore. There were no words, and no movements but the tearing of teeth and claws.” (Golding 169). Because the boys have no rules to keep them in line, they start losing control of themselves. This leads to killing Simon. The savage-like behavior of the boys greatly reflects the idea that rules are essential to the survival of society.

It is apparent that rules are essential to the survival of a proper society. A lack of rules leads to death and destruction, and incapability for children to manage their lives, and live them properly. It also begins their transformation into savages. Destructive behavior results from a lack of control and rules.