Primitivity In Lord Of The Flies Analysis - 1101 Words

Development of Primitivity The fight between good and evil exists in many different forms, and is an ever-present issue in the world. This is also true in the novel, Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, where boys who have crash landed on a deserted island deal with the struggle between good and evil. Specifically, the struggle between civilization and primitivity is important, as it reveals the savagery of human nature through the way the struggle evolves on the island. As the boys begin their time on the island, they try to recreate a civilized society, but their true human nature is still perceivable. When the boys first assemble on the island, they decide they need a leader. Jack thinks he should be chief, so when the boys vote to†¦show more content†¦They are acting on their primal human nature, and think only of themselves. Even when the boys are at their most civilized, they are still showing signs of primitivity. The longer the boys are on the island, the more discontent they become with civilization. One day, Ralph sees a ship on the horizon and realizes the signal fire has been extinguished. When he goes up to the mountain to investigate, he finds, â€Å"A procession had appeared . . . The gutted carcass of a pig swung from a stake, swinging heavily as the twins toiled over the uneven ground† (68). The boys have started to show more of a preference towards primitivity. Jack convinces Sam and Eric to go hunting, instead of keeping watch over the signal fire. If being rescued is their first priority, then the signal fire should always be lit. However, they let the fire go out, revealing that they are not as concerned with civilization. As the boys are exploring the island, they decide to hunt a pig. At first, Ralph is reluctant to join in, but when the hunt is over, he says, â€Å"I hit him all right. The spear stuck in. I wounded him!† (113). This shows how being away from soci ety is affecting all the boys. So far, Ralph is the greatest advocate for efforts contributing to rescue, and opposes hunting, viewing it as a waste of time. When Ralph gets excited about participating in the hunt, he shows how even his own attitude has been affected by innate human savagery. At one of the