Lord of the Flies Coursework A consideration of the ways in which a sense of pessimism about human nature is conveyed in the first four chapters of 'Lord of the Flies'.

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Lord of the Flies Coursework

A consideration of the ways in which a sense of pessimism about human nature is conveyed in the first four chapters of ‘Lord of the Flies’.

   William Golding’s ‘Lord of the Flies’ was based primarily on the book ‘Coral Island’ in which children find an island and live there in Utopia. Golding’s thoughts on this were that it simply couldn’t be done; so he creates a Utopia; a paradise for young boys to take refuge as a plane crash leaves them stranded. They are safe and in a place where everything is perfect as their nature slowly tilts them to their own instinct; their basic survival code. These boys become almost animal; their vicious potential for evil shines through.

Within this novel there is an incredible amount of pessimism of human nature. Golding brings to life the reality of life, that there is evil inside of us; just waiting to unfold.

   The author brings across this negative image of human nature mainly by showing the development of the main characters, for instance Jack, Ralph and Roger and how the sense of evil is brought to reality in what these people do and say. Even the island itself promotes Dystopia, sure at times it may be beautiful and perfect but as the atmosphere changes; so does the scenery.

   Within this essay I am going to explain and show my point that there is pessimistic view of human nature within this novel. Even from the first chapter, the innocence of the island is shown firstly but there are many indications of the evil yet to unleash. For example, even in the first few pages it is apparent that between the first two characters we have encountered (Ralph and Piggy), Piggy is the more weaker of the two; the more vulnerable. It is also very apparent that he will be picked on and made fun of. ‘“They used to call me ‘Piggy’” Ralph shrieked with laughter. ‘(Chapter One)

   These young boys are obviously as immature as they should be. Even Ralph, who eventually becomes the more responsible one, has mean tendencies. The words of Piggy and Ralph’s response portray a real negative view of human nature. The fact that he makes fun of him even though Piggy asked Ralph specifically not to.  

   As the society they are beginning to build is having its flaws, Jack is not the Chief and he hates it. And after a fight he picks on the weakest, the most vulnerable; Piggy.  ‘He took a step, and able to at last hit someone, stuck his fist into Piggy’s stomach.’

 This is a very obvious portrayal of human nature, the fact that the strongest picks upon the weakest to show how big and endearing the stronger is. Golding here takes exactly what animals do when looking for pray, and puts it in the form of bullying. Even the fact that it states ‘and able to at last hit someone’, is a clear indicator that Jack is persecuted as being the negative side of human nature. He wants to hit someone, and the fact that he picks on the weakest is not surprising.

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“We may stay here till we die.” – Piggy (Chapter One)

   This quotation simply explains the pessimist outlook Piggy has. Out of all of the boys Piggy is the most vulnerable, but he has intelligence. He can see what is happening to them all. Sure enough, he does have a negative outlook for the future, but he knows what is going to happen. He can see it before his eyes. Piggy is not stupid. “They’re all dead, nobody don’t know we’re here” - Piggy (Chapter One)

   Piggy obviously knows what he is talking about; sure enough he can’t ...

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