Lord of the Flies by William Golding Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Lord of the Flies
Book Review: Deep and though-provoking, yet not a favorite
Summary: 3 Stars
Upon his return from World War II, William Golding wrote the book Lord of the Flies, demonstrating how the war had altered his view of humanity and the evil it was capable of. Borrowed extensively from R. M. Ballantyne's The Coral Island, Lord of the Flies is set on an island that acts a microcosm of WWII. The school boys demonstrate what Golding believes will happen should man be unleashed into the wild with no society to monitor his actions, what will happen when man gets in touch with the primitive evil inside him. Using supposedly innocent children to enact this tragedy, Golding makes his message even more daunting and thought-evoking.
In the midst of war, a plane evacuating a group of school boys from Britain is shot down over a deserted island, far off course. The story follows the boys' attempts to survive and to be rescued. It follows their process of electing a leader, the battle between Ralph and Jack, and the island's descent into chaos. This novel is pretty intense. The allegorical struggle between good and evil is suggested in the title of the novel. The title is said to be a reference to the Hebrew name Beelzebub (literally "Lord of Flies"), a name sometimes used as a synonym for Satan.
The story, which seems to be another survival story, keeps its readers engaged with the tension contained in the calm yet eerie narration. The mystery laced yet seemingly uneventful opening of the novel immediately captures the attention of readers and holds them in a sort of frustrating suspense as they wonder about the meaning and significance behind the introduction. As the story develops and the island is enveloped in madness, the reader wonders in horror at the savagery such young and supposedly innocent children are capable of. Without any sense of morality and other societal influences, children are the perfect subjects in this examination of true human nature.
The syntactical structure and the abundant imagery truly make Lord of the Flies a graphic and daunting read. Variations in syntax between long, continuous lines and choppy, rhythmic sentences help readers visualize and relate to the situation in the book. Be it the pounding nervousness as their camp is invaded by children gone wild, or the frightening image of the "lord of the flies," each scene is intensified by the author's mastery of language. It helps a reader further delve into Golding's microcosm of humanity as the boys' descent into savagery threatens our faith in the good of humanity.
Despite the magnificence of its message and the remarkable skill with which this novel is crafted, I definitely do not count Lord of the Flies as amongst one of my favorite books. I personally felt that Golding was far too pessimistic in his view of humanity. While the story does serve was a frightful caution sign, it does not reflect the whole of humanity. Golding seems to have been greatly affected by his experience in WWII. It is true that war brings out the worst in people, but it is also true that war and savagery do not define our existence. Perhaps I am simply far too optimistic but I feel that just as there is innate evil in the world, so is there innate good. That is why the struggle between good and evil is a ever present theme in both literature and life.
Lord of the Flies is a great read if its allegorical message is taken with caution. Its deeply developed characters add complexity to this mind shaking story. The suspenseful plot in addition to Golding's eerie narration makes Lord of the Flies a novel that will leave you shivering. All in all, it is worth the read. That is unless you'd rather go for something less philosophical and more simplistic.
Book Review: Eerily realistic portrayal of children in isolation...
Summary: 4 Stars
I'd read this a long time ago and I thought it was good then but I certainly didn't appreciate the complexity of Golding's characters. This succinct book is at the same time childish and grownup, able to marry the two in to a cohesive storyline. I am much more impressed this second time around.
The hard part is showing how the children got on to the island because it would be a little hard to show a realistic plane crash on to a deserted island and still have survivors. In fact, where is the plane and what of the other dead children of the plane? This is exactly why this is all left unsaid because it leaves the unknown and mysterious as something that is altogether believable. Instead we start by following two children who find a way to call an assembly and form a somewhat organized society. Yet right away you see the cracks that will form. You see the childishness that is throughout the book. The insanity that could come of isolation from grownups.
The accurate portrayal of children is what strikes me. The younguns who play and eat, not really understanding what is going on and yet still scared and frightened. The biguns trying to act grownup and organize everyone into a little society, and yet still frightened. The three most important, of course, are Ralph and Jack (on equal footing) and Piggy, to me the main focus of the whole book. Where Ralph and Jack act the biguns they still represent children, unable to keep their emotions in check. Ralph is the leader who slowly loses his train of thought and his focus the longer they stay on the island. Jack is the hunter who loses his mind as he cracks under the pressure of hunting, only to find that actually succeeding sends his fragile mental state into a much worse situation. Piggy, of course, actually represents the smarts of the group, the one who could have led them to a much more seamless survival if he only had an ounce of leadership. It is ironic, then, that he died at the height of the "civilized" children turning into savages.
All in all a well rounded book that has lasted for over fifty years for a reason. If you've never read it, read it. If you've already read it, read it again. Definitely a fun book to read.
4.5 stars.
Book Review: Excellent classic
Summary: 5 Stars
A classic that never goes out of style! Got it for class for my middle-schooler, who thoroughly enjoyed it.Book Review: High School Teaches Some Things Well
Summary: 5 Stars
I read this novel in my Honors English class, my junior year in high school. This book completely changed the way that I read stories.
Classic! There is a depth to the book that you have to search for. I have never read another story with so many underlying messages and metaphors. Once you see them, you'll never read the same again!
Book Review: Lord of the Flies
Summary: 5 Stars
Have you ever wanted to go on an adventure to an island lost in time without even getting out of your seat? If so, this is the book for you. Lord of the Flies is not only an adventure but it is also a struggle of life and death at your fingertips. Each page weaves a magnificent story about a group of English school boys and their many struggles as they try to stay alive.
The reason I love this book is the beautiful choice of words the author, William Golding, put into the book. The words paint a picture that makes you feel sad when the characters are sad or happy when the characters are happy. Golding's Lord of the Flies is truly a work of art.
At the dawn of World War II, a small plane carrying a group of English school boys, all from the age of 6-12, crashes on an island somewhere in the South Pacific. The island is abundant with water, fruit, and wild pigs for meat. With all of these resources, they start to form a microcosm on the island.
The character that stands out in the book is Piggy. In the book, Piggy represents common sense. He is a rather large boy, but his brains compensate for his physical appearance. Piggy is the first person Ralph meets on the island and they quickly become friends. Piggy is very supportive and defends Ralph whenever he needs defending. Towards the end of the book, Piggy finds himself in deep trouble with only Ralph as a friend.
Lord of the Flies is filled with contrasting characters. For example, Jack is the leader of the gang. He has a posse of followers who will do whatever he says - good or bad. Jack is insecure and thinks that if he can't boss someone around that they are a threat. In the book, Jack is the opposite of Ralph. On the other hand, Ralph, the main character of the story, is a true leader who wants to get everyone's input before he makes a decision that affects everyone. Ralph's only goal is to maintain order on the island while Jack's goal is to do what he wants. Therefore throughout the book, there is a constant rivalry between Jack and Ralph.
When civilization rapidly turns to chaos, someone will rise and someone will fall. Is it Jack or Ralph who will take command of the island and lead the boys to safety? If you want to find out what happens to Ralph and all the rest of the boys, read Lord of the Flies.