No rules leads to chaos - Lord of the flies

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Wednesday, December 15, 2003                                                                                                       Casey Hall

        

In today’s society, rules control peoples’ everyday lives. In the novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding, the result of a society without rules and regulations is demonstrated throughout the novel. The boys of the novel are abandoned on an island without adults and only their own teamwork and knowledge to keep them alive. The boys become completely different people then they normally would in society, and become deranged without rules to keep them sane. They then become savage-like and start to kill their teammates and friends. Rules are essential to the survival of society.

Without rules, death and destruction are rampant. A lack of rules causes fights and disagreement. When there are no rules or punishments for people’s actions, things can get out of hand. “ Roger, with a sense of delirious abandonment, leaned all his weight on the lever…The rock struck Piggy a glancing blow from chin to knee…” (Golding 200). Because there were no rules against murder and torture on the island, some boys decided they could kill without punishment or regret. If there had been rules and punishment, the boundaries would have kept the boys from taking this drastic action. If there are no rules, there are disagreements such drastic action, but people can also begin to become mentally ill and insane. If there are no rules to keep things organized and safe, the boys can start to act crazy and do crazy things. “ ‘Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood!’…There were no words and no movements but the tearing of teeth and claws.” (Golding 168-169). When there are no adults, or rules to control anyone, the boys start to go insane. Rules do not only affect the way the boys act; it also effects their organization. They got so excited about the fire, hunting and the beast that they got to a point where they could not be controlled. If there are no rules to organize the boys and their whereabouts, people can be lost and forgotten. “ ‘That little ‘un had a mark on his-face-where-is-he now?’…Ralph muttered the reply as if in shame.” (Golding 47).  Because the boys had no rules or ways to verify each other’s whereabouts, people were lost, and most likely died since they were never seen again. All these points reflect the way in which rules are essential to the survival of the boys and society; without rules, they cannot survive.

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        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 ...

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