Examine how Golding presents Goody and Roger

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Examine how Golding presents Goody and Roger

and the relationship between them.

Goody and Roger have a forbidden relationship throughout the novel because both are already in relationships. However, their affair could have been prevented or at least ended by Jocelin by stopping the building of the spire. Jocelin does not choose to do this but sacrifices many of his characters in order to get the spire built. He married Goody to Pangall to satisfy his own feelings and therefore set up Goody to unhappiness and her want for Roger. Therefore it is sin that brought the relationship together which shows the reader that the relationship is not a good one that may end in tragedy. Golding presents this sinful relationship by firstly talking about the individual characters of Goody and Roger; he talks about it as a "major evil" and talks about the pregnancy from the relationship.

In chapter one the reader is given the view that Goody Pangall is a religious character and therefore we feel that she would not sin. Goody Pangall is a "daughter in God". Goody's name also suggests that she is good instead of evil because of the 'Good' in Goody. However, as we already know the relationship she has with Roger is not a good one but is evil. This contrast highlights the evil in Goody more because it is not expected. The reader can see indications of evil in Goody though because she has "red hair". Red symbolises evil. Jocelin speaks of Roger as if he does not like him but the reader sees that Roger is the better person. For example, Roger listens to his workers for when talking to Jocelin he says, "sometimes the army does the leading". However, Roger is a Pagan and therefore we see him to be evil. Therefore as Roger is evil and Goody is good when the two combine it gives and unusual relationship, but shows the kind of deception that is in the church. Things are not always what they seem. Goody has these feelings because of how her marriage with Pangall was formed; she cannot help but have feelings for Roger. Roger is a sexual character as he compared to a "bull". Therefore he is attracted to Goody because as we have seen from earlier descriptions she is a very attractive person and Rachel cannot have children just as Pangall cannot give Goody a child. Roger's sexuality cannot be shown with Rachel because he cannot have a child that way. When Goody gets pregnant, Jocelin says that "the blood of childbirth never ceases to flow" showing how bad this relationship is and how unpleasant and painful it is for other characters to see such as Pangall. This relationship is "wickedness".
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The pregnancy is a "major evil" but Jocelin mentioned that God wanted the relationship, for the spire however he did not want the pregnancy. When Jocelin mentions that God was prepared for the relationship for the spire, he actually meant himself but was trying to justify is with God's will. Instead of the pregnancy being a good thing, because of the sign of new life, it is made to be evil. It can be compared to Mary and Joseph to show how bad it is. Mary became pregnant but however was still a virgin and carried Jesus. Therefore ...

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