Illustrate the theme of good and evil as depicted in Lord of the Flies.
PremiumCritically analyze the triumph of evil over good in 'Lord of the Flies'. [2021] ✪✪✪
Or, Illustrate the theme of good and evil as depicted in Lord of the Flies. [2019]
Or, Illustrate the theme of good and evil in Lord of the Flies. [2017]
William Golding (1911–1993), in his novel “Lord of the Flies” (1954), presents a deep study of human nature through the conflict between good and evil. The novel shows how innocence disappears and evil wins when moral control breaks down. Golding suggests that the roots of evil lie inside human beings. Through the fall of order, the murder of Simon and Piggy, and the rise of savagery, he shows the tragic triumph of evil over good.
Conflict Between Civilization and Savagery: At the start, Ralph represents order, reason, and civilization, while Jack stands for savagery and violence. Ralph says,
But Jack replies,“We’ve got to have rules and obey them.”
ter;">“Bollocks to the rules!” This marks the beginning of moral collapse. The boys choose hunting and bloodlust over rescue and discipline. Golding shows that evil begins when civilization loses its control. The fight between Ralph and Jack is not just for power—it is a battle between goodness and brutality.Fall of Innocence: The boys arrive on the island as innocent schoolchildren, but slowly they change. Fear of the imaginary “beast” turns them into killers. Simon says wisely,
He means that the beast is inside them, not outside. When Simon is murdered by the frenzied mob, it shows that purity and truth are destroyed by blind fear and violence. This event clearly reveals how good is crushed when humans let evil take control of their hearts.“Maybe there is a beast… maybe it’s only us.”
Destruction Of Reason And Morality: Piggy represents intellect and rational thought. He believes in law and peace. He says,
But no one listens to him. When Roger rolls the rock that kills Piggy, the conch also breaks. The death of Piggy and the breaking of the conch symbolize the death of reason and justice. Golding proves that without moral control, human beings return to primitive cruelty where evil rules completely over good.“Which is better—to have rules and agree, or to hunt and kill?”
Simon as the Voice Of Goodness: Simon is the only boy who truly understands human nature. He realizes that the real “Lord of the Flies” is the evil within man. When he says,
He speaks the truth that all people carry evil inside them. Simon’s kindness, calmness, and insight make him a Christ-like figure. His death at the hands of the mob shows that the world often rejects goodness. His murder marks the moral downfall of the island’s society.“I’m the Beast… I’m part of you,”
Final Triumph of Evil: By the end, the boys become full savages. They hunt Ralph like an animal, and the island burns. Fire, once a symbol of hope, becomes a weapon of destruction. Ralph weeps as
Evil has triumphed over good, but it brings only loss and guilt. When the naval officer arrives, the boys are ashamed. Golding shows that civilization only hides evil—it never destroys it. The darkness within humans wins whenever order and morality disappear.“Ralph wept for the end of innocence.”
To sum up, William Golding powerfully shows how easily goodness can be destroyed by inner evil. The deaths of Simon and Piggy, the fall of order, and the rise of savagery all prove that evil is stronger than good when fear and greed control the mind. The novel warns that man’s worst enemy lies within himself.