Lord of the Flies
- Author: William Gerald Golding (1911 – 1993)
- Title: Lord of the Flies
- Published: 1954
- Genre: novel (allegory)
- Trivia: W. Golding was awarded Nobel Prize Literature 1983
- Trivia: This book is nr 41 Modern Library 100 Best Novels.
- Trivia: The novel was listen nr 70 on BBC’s 2003 survey ‘The Big Read’
- Trivia: List Reading Challenges 2017
- Trivia: Nobel Prize Reading Challenge
- #50BooksToReadBeforeYouDie
Conclusion:
- This is not a story that is scary because of plot twists or original characters.
- It is scary because it will frighten anyone in the deepest way to see
- what happens when man loses his sense of civility.
- The plot is simple.
- School boys crash land on a remote island with no adults.
- The boys set up their own government, with Ralph in charge.
- But things start to fall apart very quickly.
- The book it provokes fear on a most basic level.
What was the inspiration for the book ?
- Golding was tremendously affected by the WW II.
- The war had done something to him.
- Golding was involved as a marine officer.
- He was aboard the destroyer chasing the German battleship Bismarck.
- …he participated in the Normandy invasion.
- In Lord of the Flies Golding had shown
- …how cruel authorities are able to act.
- There are always people who follow them,
- …nevertheless, obediently.
- Examples: Hitler in Germany — Stalin in Russia
What are the reasons for its enduring legacy ?
- We are still fascinated by the central theme of the book:
- intelligence (Ralph, democratic leader) VS
- irrationality (Jack, totalitarian leader)
- The conch and Piggy´s glasses …become damaged.
- They are the symbols of the collapse of a democratic society.
Last thoughts:
- I read Lord of the Flies in high-school
- During this re-reading I finally understood the allegory.
- It has to do with my own development.
- I now understand more about
- …the ‘powers that be’ who ruled (rule) the world.
- #Classic
8 Comments
Post a comment
NancyElin 
I read this at school and I’m not sure if I fully understood its implications. One to reread I think
LikeLike
I was in the same situation…..the book was on a ‘reading list’ (…probably for the summer) and I was thrust into it without much guidance/analysis by a teacher. It is a shame because I could have learned much more from the book than I did. It turns out as I grew older….I’ve learned to teach myself about the book I’m reading. Now reading is my favorite pasttime. Thanks for your comments!
LikeLike
I read this when I was younger also but I think it was not for school. I liked it then. I should reread it too, although I think it would be depressing.
LikeLike
I hesitated to re-read it for the challenge #50BooksToReadBeforeYouDie due to the violence. Golding did find the perfect balance between young boys gone wild – and instinct to kill. It sounds like a difficult task….but he did it. The book is 198 pgs…you could read it in a day. Thanks for your comments, Tracy!
LikeLike
I read this in high school, too, and really need to revisit it as an adult. The deeper meaning was surely lost on me way back then. For the past couple of years I’ve been kicking around the idea of a “Rereading High School” project… guess I need to start making the list.
LikeLike
That is a great idea for a list!
I remember those ‘summer reading lists that I had to read…..whilie I’d rather be shopping at the Trumbull CT mall of listening to WABC radio hit lists! It feels that many books in high-school just flew by me…and I really missed a teacher who could show me all there is to discover…style, allusions, symbols, landscape that mirrors the characters, POV….etc.
I’ll try to make a list for 2018 as well! Thanks for your comments!
LikeLike
I think I’ll make it a sublist in my Classics Club list, since they’e all classics by now, lol! Are you from CT? We lived there in the late 80s… I worked at St. Raphael’s in New Haven while my husband was in residency at St. Vincent’s in Bridgeport. I spent some time at that Trumbull mall myself 🙂
LikeLike
Yes, Born and bred CT yankee! Uncle and father were both doctors…and worked at times at St Raphael’s and Griffin Hospital Derby.
It’s a small world!
LikeLike