1. Introduction and Background
Lord of the Flies 1954
Introduction and Background

2. L.O.T.F Author
William Golding
Born in Britain

3. Title Translation “Beelzebub”: a Hebrew word for LUCIFER
However, the literal translation of “Beelzebub”
into English is LORD OF THE FLIES

4. About William Golding British novelist
Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in literature
Fought in Royal Navy during WWII
Participated in invasion of Normandy on D-Day
At war’s end, returned to teaching and writing

5. In the decade before LOTF was published, Britain had been involved in two wars:
WWII
Korean War

6. 22 years later Britain was again involved in
As a child, Golding witnessed WWI, which was referred to as “the war to end all wars”;
HOWEVER,
22 years later Britain was again involved in
ANOTHER WAR
to end all wars, which caused more devastation than was imaginable

7. Through LOTF, Golding makes the statement that we cannot escape our savage, violent tendencies…
…and without social order, we devolve into a state of chaos

8. Golding’s Fiction Allegorical Allusions to Classical literature
The representation of abstract ideas or principles by characters, figures, or events in narrative, dramatic, or pictorial form.
A story, picture, or play employing such representation. John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress and Herman Melville's Moby Dick are allegories.
A symbolic representation: The blindfolded figure with scales is an allegory of justice.
Allusions to
Classical literature
Mythology
Christian Symbolism

9. Lord of the Flies
“It was simply what seemed sensible for me to write after the war when everyone was thanking God they weren’t Nazi’s. I’d seen enough to realize that every single one of us could be Nazi’s.”
William Golding on his novel Lord of the Flies

10. Philosophical Influence
Rousseau
Swiss born French Philosopher:
Man is good by nature but corrupted by the complex historical events that resulted in present day civil society
Both rulers and the citizens have natural human rights as well as obligations to each other which should be bound in a social contract

11. Philosophical Influence
Marx
German Philosopher:
Focused on social class
Social class dictates social life
The wealthy own and control all elements of society
 Believed that the workers would become poorer and poorer and experience alienation. Alienation is seen as the workers becoming more distanced from, or isolated from, their work, resulting in a feeling of powerlessness
Believed that capitalism had to end and be replaced by a socialist system (socialism) that would make all equal and have all people's needs met

12. Philosophical Influence
Locke
English Philosopher:
Religious freedom and tolerance
Believed a person's mind begins as a blank slate that is then shaped and formed over time through experience
Believed that governments exist by the consent of the people in order to protect the rights of the people and promote the public good, governments that fail to do so can be resisted and replaced with new governments (Rebellion)
Natural rights: Life, liberty, and property

13. Philosophical Influence
Hobbes
English Philosopher:
Argued that people were naturally cruel, greedy, and selfish.
Needed to be controlled or they would fight, rob, and oppress each other.
Believed that life in the “state of nature” without laws or control would be “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.”
Social contract: give up freedom for an organized society.
Argues in favor of absolute monarchy.

14. Themes in the Novel Civilization vs. Savagery Loss of Innocence
Original Sin
Fear that separates one from God
Nature of Good and Evil
Goodness is rare and fleeting