Lord of the Flies is one of the most brilliant books of all time.
It's no wonder that it's studied in so many English classes: it's strong on plot, character and setting--all the elements of a great story. And unlike Shogun (a story strong on plot, character and setting) it also has importance. No offense, Dan.
Not every novel has importance. Some novels are just good stories. Like movies. Some have a message and others are merely entertaining. Lord of the Flies carries the same moral as Heart of Darkness: that Man is an animal. When you strip away our civilization and rules and laws and everything else that makes us well-behaved, we are dangerous, slinking animals.
Now. I'm not saying that I agree with Conrad or Golding. I'm not saying that pessimism is the only message. What I'm saying is that I can't think of a single book that more effortlessly combines the symbolic with the literal. The pig's head is Satan. Simon is our conscience. Ralph is us. The conch is law. And Piggy is civilization, rational but annoying.
LotF is subtle. Its symbolism isn't obnoxious--but it is apparent.
Alright, consider the gauntlet thrown.
7 years ago
2 comments:
Even I have to agree that Shogun, much as I enjoyed it, is not exactly an "important" work.
I remember getting into a debate with a European history teacher in high school about LotF. I disagreed with its basic premise.
As to your gauntlet, I shall have to think 'pon it.
I agree that it's one that sticks with you long after reading it. However, I was deeply disturbed by it, and essentially, like Dan, disagree with its basic premise.
There are elements of truth (as any awake & aware person in our society must admit). Within many people can be found the animal-like cruelty of the LOTF boys, but I still believe that there is more goodness (especially in children)than evil.
I'm much more inclined to partner myself with Dostoevsky's view in "Crime & Punishment" wherein he argues that, within all of us is an inherent sense of justice -- of right and wrong -- and we can't escape it with logic or reasoning or even desperation.
LOTF seems to argue that laws are a creation of society. But I feel that "law" and "order" are part of the eternal, absolute truth of the universe.
The question of these two books (and that of Heart of Darkness, which you referred to as well) is: Essentially, does man, outside the watchful eye of modern society, revert to lawlessness as the natural order...or instinctively within him is there a sense of law & order, right & wrong -- not just as it pertains to survival, but also as it pertains to progression, goodness?
Perhaps its the Mormon in me speaking, but I lean towards the latter.
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