Submitted By: Virginia Krusteva
Submitted To: Ms. Troncone
Fascism in Lord of the Flies
Fascism is known to be the “philosophy of government that stresses the primacy and glory of the state, unquestioning obedience to its leader, subordination of the individual will to the state's authority, and harsh suppression of dissent.” As William Golding’s Lord of the Flies unravels into an ongoing story about leaders and power, the ten year olds have an unquestionable relation towards the current, at the time, war going on in the world. When revising “The Fourteen Characteristics of Fascism” by Lawrence Britt, through many hints and indications, Golding pertained his novel to the well-known characteristics.
The main characteristics of Fascism are the Powerful and Continuing Nationalism and the Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights. The Nationalism is projected in “mak[ing] constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.” One of the first clues in the book that the boys would become savages was Jack and the hunters’ chanting when celebrating their successful kill. “Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Spill her blood.”(Golding 74) For them, that chant seemed to play the patriotic motto Hitler or any other tyrant would use while persuading and advertising their beliefs. Also, the boys’ painted faces were just like uniforms at wartime. It was their cover from their innocence, as if they were morphed into savages, with no morals. At war, or transition into Fascism, the uniforms worn represented the opinions the soldiers held. Once one was in a uniform, the person was aloud to be as violent as ever, without any conscience or restrictions. Uniforms were like a permission slip to be cruel and violent. A uniform morphed a soldier into a savage that discriminates the human rights.
”Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.” In the beginning of the story the boys outlined rules that must be followed and stated, “ We’re English; and English are best at everything.”(Golding 42) By Chapter 5 Jack disclaimed recognizing the set of laws at the island. When Jack shouted "Conch! Conch! We don't need the conch any more,”(Golding 101) there’s an obvious transition from being proper, English and civilized, to savages that enjoy disorder and negligence. On one occasion, when Ralph reminded Jack that he is breaking “the conch rule”, Jack responded with “Who cares?” and followed with "Bollocks to the rules! We're strong - we hunt! If there's a beast, we'll hunt it down!“(Golding 100) His denial for the importance of the conch was a major step towards savagery; by his ignorance the only security the boys had was taken away. That gave Jack freedom to torment their minds into following him into anything he appointed them to do, such as, torturing their mates and being disloyal to Ralph.
