Change In Understanding

  Over the course of studying the novel "Lord Of The Flies", we have formed many different perceptions on the story itself. Our understanding of the book has changed from shallow understanding to having more insightful thoughts and understanding on the themes and characters of Lord Of The Flies.


 Before reading a novel, it is quite understandable for one to read the short synopsis at the back of the novel. However, the synopsis only gave us a brief understanding of the novel as it was only a summary of the novel. This is the synopsis of Lord Of The Flies:

"A plane crashes on a desert island and the only survivors, a group of schoolboys, assemble on the beach and wait to be rescued. By day they inhabit a land of bright fantastic birds and dark blue seas, but at night their dreams are haunted by the image of a terrifying beast. As the boys' delicate sense of order fades, so their childish dreams are transformed into something more primitive, and their behaviour starts to take on a murderous, savage significance."

  Initially, we had thought that the "terrifying beast" had referred to an actual beast living on the deserted island. This is further supported by the novel in chapter 2 when the little 'un with the mulberry birthmark wanted to know what Ralph was "going to do about the snake-thing" which "came in the dark" and  was living "in the woods". We had thought that the beast was real and would threaten their lives later in the book. However over the course of studying Lord Of The Flies, we have gained a deeper understanding on what the "terrifying beast" has meant.

  The synopsis has actually given a clue on what the terrifying beast had referred to as seen from " their behaviour starts to take on a murderous, savage significance". At the beginning we did not fully understand what that meant, but after analyzing the novel, we realised that the beast had actually reflected their change from civilised schoolboys to animalistic boys. Throughout their change, the beast had actually been referring to their inhumanity, their greed, their cruelty, otherwise known as the darkness in human nature. As the novel progresses, we can see that the darkness in human nature of the once civilized boys will gain control over them and influence them to make the wrong decisions. These decisions will eventually lead to the deaths of some of the boys. Many similarities can be seen between an actual beast and the darkness of human nature.  For example, an actual beast portrays violence and savagery when killing while the destructive instincts of the boys causes them to get caught up in the act of committing violence.

  When we understand why the author chooses to portray human nature in such a way, we will be able to understand the main theme of Lord Of The Flies namely, the darkness in human nature. Upon understanding the theme, we are able to understand the author's intentions of writing this novel. Lastly, we feel that the author is trying to convey the fact that most of the time, humans are the root cause of evil-doing.