802
Wednesday, 11•5•14
Reading Response Essay: "Lord of The Flies" by William Golding
Society is only as successful as those in it. The book "Lord of the flies by William Golding is about young boys that get stranded by an island by themselves, and have to survive amongst each other. The author thinks that society will not be successful if citizens blindly follow those in power, and pick them for superficial reasons.
In the book, the wrong leaders for the children are picked, and for for superficial reasons. The smartest of the boys, and also the fattest, would be the ideal choice for his wisdom and calm in difficult situations. For example, the boys have devised a system where the one who is holding a certain conch shell gets to speak in front of everybody. During a heated discussion about whether or not there are dangerous animals on the island, one of the smaller kids are trying to speak, but cannot get a word in through the clamor. Piggy silences everybody and makes sure the boy gets an opportunity to voice his opinion. Piggy is not chosen to be leader, however, because he is overweight and bespectacled. The boys pick Ralph, who is the one who found the conch. He is also handsome, and one of the older boys. Ralph is not an adept leader, as he does nothing to keep the children together. For example, when another boy, Jack, is taunting him in front of all of the other boys, he does nothing to stop him. As a result of this, Piggy's glasses are broken, which the boys used to light fires. This causes distress among the group. For example:
The three boys stood in the darkness, striving unsuccessfully to convey the majesty of adult life.
'They wouldn't quarrel-'
'Or break my specs-'
'Or talk about a beast-'
The boys are distressed about not having a functioning society, due to Ralph's flimsy leadership. The children did not choose the correct person to lead their group, and it ended up hurting them.
The author also shows how citizens follow their leaders unquestioningly. The small children in the book obey Ralph , or whichever older child is giving them instructions, throughout the book. For instance, when Ralph calls a meeting, "The children gave him the same simple obedience that they had given to the men with the megaphones." This shows their willingness to submit to authority. Elsewhere in the book, the two boys with the most power, Ralph and Jack, go to war. The boys are easily persuaded to join in, and which sides to pick. It is shown how the smaller boys do not make their own decisions.
In the book "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding, it is shown how those with less power in society do not make their own decisions, and because of their leaders being picked for the wrong reasons, it decomposes and results in turmoil. Ralph is picked simply because he has the conch. He turns out to be a flimsy leader. The boys go to war because the less powerful ones, who make up most of the society, do not intervene. In a group of people, the society has to be led by someone who is more of an extension of its citizens, and less of a controller of its citizens.
The three boys stood in the darkness, striving unsuccessfully to convey the majesty of adult life.
'They wouldn't quarrel-'
'Or break my specs-'
'Or talk about a beast-'
The boys are distressed about not having a functioning society, due to Ralph's flimsy leadership. The children did not choose the correct person to lead their group, and it ended up hurting them.
The author also shows how citizens follow their leaders unquestioningly. The small children in the book obey Ralph , or whichever older child is giving them instructions, throughout the book. For instance, when Ralph calls a meeting, "The children gave him the same simple obedience that they had given to the men with the megaphones." This shows their willingness to submit to authority. Elsewhere in the book, the two boys with the most power, Ralph and Jack, go to war. The boys are easily persuaded to join in, and which sides to pick. It is shown how the smaller boys do not make their own decisions.
In the book "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding, it is shown how those with less power in society do not make their own decisions, and because of their leaders being picked for the wrong reasons, it decomposes and results in turmoil. Ralph is picked simply because he has the conch. He turns out to be a flimsy leader. The boys go to war because the less powerful ones, who make up most of the society, do not intervene. In a group of people, the society has to be led by someone who is more of an extension of its citizens, and less of a controller of its citizens.
No comments:
Post a Comment