Memorable Quotes From Lord of the Flies

Memorable Quotes From 'Lord of the Flies' The Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, was first published in 1954 and became instantly controversial. The twisted coming-of-age story tells the tale of a group of schoolboys stranded on a desert island after a plane crash. Its by far Goldings best-known work. As the boys struggle to survive, they devolve into violence. This book is a commentary on human nature that shows mankinds darkest undertones. The novel is now sometimes considered something of a companion piece to J.D. Salingers coming-of-age story The Catcher in the Rye. The two works can be viewed as flip sides of the same coin. Both books have themes of isolation, with peer pressure and loss featuring heavily in their plots. The Lord of the Flies is one of the most-read and most popular books for high school and college students studying youth culture and its influences. Piggys Role Concerned with order and doing things in a civilized way, Piggy is doomed early on in the story. He tries to help keep order and grows distressed when the boys cant even manage the basic task of building a fire.   Chapter 1 They used to call me Piggy! Before this statement, Piggy tells Ralph  I dont care what they call me...so long as they dont call me what they used to call me in school. The reader might not realize it yet, but this does not bode well for poor Piggy. His weakness has been identified and when Jack breaks his glasses soon after, readers have  already started to suspect that Piggys life is in danger. Ralph and Jack Battle for Control Chapter 2 Weve got to have rules and obey them. After all, were not savages. Were English, and the English are best at everything. This is a central point of The Lord of the Flies, and is Goldings strongest commentary about both the necessity and the futility of trying to impose a structure on a world inhabited by people with base instincts. Jack, who later becomes the leader of the savage group of boys, cant conceive of a world without British dominance.   Chapter 4 He began to dance and his laughter became a bloodthirsty snarling. This description of Jack in chapter 4 shows the beginning of the tendency toward savagery. Its a truly disturbing scene and sets the stage for the brutality thats coming next.   Chapter 5 All this I meant to say. Now Ive said it. You voted me for chief. Now you do what I say. Ralph still has some semblance of control as the groups leader at this point, with the rules still somewhat intact. But the foreboding here is clear, and its obvious to the reader that the fabric of their little society is about to tear.   And you shut up! Who are you, anyway? Sitting there telling people what to do. You cant hunt, you cant sing... Im chief. I was chosen. Why should choosing make any difference? Just giving orders that dont make any sense... This exchange between Ralph and Jack shows the larger dilemma of earned power and authority versus power that is bestowed. It can be read as a debate between the nature of a monarchy versus elected rulers.   The Beast Within? Chapter 5 Maybe there is a beast...maybe its only us. As the doomed Simon and Piggy try to make sense of whats really happening on the island, Golding gives us yet another larger moral theme to consider. With the world in The Lord of the Flies at war, and Goldings status as a war veteran, this statement seems to question whether humans are their own worst enemy. The authors answer is an emphatic yes.