Lord of the Flies William Goldings Masterpiece 1911- 1993.

Lord of the Flies

William Golding’s Masterpiece

1911- 1993

Author and Context

William Golding was born on September 19, 1911 in England

1940 Golding joined the Royal Navy Participated in D-Day Experience in WWII had a profound effect on his

view of humanity and the evils of which it was capable.

His first and greatest success came with Lord of the Flies (1954)

About the Novel

Set in mid 1940’s when Europe engulfed in war.

A plane carrying British school boys is mistaken for a military craft and shot down.

Only the boys survive the crash, and try to form a society and govern themselves.

The Island

Themes

Civilization vs. SavageryLoss of InnocenceOriginal SinFear that separates one from GodNature of Good and Evil Goodness is rare and fleetingAbsolute Power

Allusions

– Reference to a well known “thing” from history, literature, work of art• Classical literature

• Mythology

• Christian Symbolism

Symbols in the Novel

The Conch- Piggy’s Glasses-Lord of the Flies-Fire Signal-

Religious Symbols The Island . . .The snake in the Garden of Eden The parachutist and Piggy. . . Jack and Ralph . . .Simon . . .

Allegory

A work of fiction carrying two levels of meaning:

- 1) a surface plot/narrative (literal)

- 2) symbolic/metaphorical meaning in which everything in story symbolizes

something greater

A Freudian AllegoryRalph, Jack, and Piggy

Id – The part of the personality reflecting unorganized, instinctual impulses. If

unbridled, it seeks immediate gratification of primitive needs. Ego

– The part of the personality corresponding most nearly to the perceived self, the controlling self that holds back the impulsiveness of the id in the effort to delay gratification until it can be found in socially approved ways.

Superego – The part of the personality corresponding most nearly to conscience,

controlling through moral scruples rather than by way of social expediency. The superego is said to be an uncompromising and punishing conscience.

Unconscious – Memories, impulses and desires that are not available to consciousness.

According to the psychoanalytic theories of Freud, painful memories and wishes are sometimes repressed – that is, diverted to the unconscious where they continue to influence our actions even though we are not aware of them.

Social Influence

1. Compliance – The person at whom the influence is directed (the target) publicly

conforms to the wishes of the influencing source but does not change his or her private beliefs or attitudes. (The child eats the spinach but continues to dislike it.)

2. Internalization – The target changes his or her beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors because of a

genuine belief in the validity of the position advocated by the influencing source. (A middle-aged man gives up smoking after reading – and believing – the surgeon general's warnings that smoking causes cancer.)

3. Identification – The target changes his or her beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors in order to

resemble an influencing source that is respected or admired. (A high school girl takes up smoking in order to be like a group of older girls she admires.)

Deindividuation – sense of self diminished when in a crowd (mob mentality)

Concerning the TitleBeel’zebub- Hebrew translation for Lord of the fliesThe title is said to be a reference to the Hebrew

name Beelzebub ( זבוב Ba'al-zvuv, "god of the ,בעלfly", "host of the fly" or literally "Lord of Flies"), a name sometimes used as a synonym for Satan.[3]

Ba‘al Zebûb might mean 'Lord of Zebûb', referring to an unknown place called Zebûb, or 'Lord of things that fly' (zebûb being a Hebrew collective noun for 'fly', thus the common lay translation 'Lord of the Flies').

Modern Day Allusions

Allusion- (n.) an indirect reference to something

There are many, many modern day allusions to Lord of the Flies in popular culture.

For example….

The Simpsons

The Simpson’s episode titled Das Bus is a parody of Lord of the Flies.

Survivor

MarK Burnett’s CBS island show is said to have been inspired by LOTF.

Sponge Bob Squarepants

The episode Club Spongebob is a spoof of LOTF.

Popular Music

Bands such as Taking Back Sunday, Nine Inch Nails, AFI, Iron Maiden, Rolling Stones, and Pink Floyd have written songs about or have alluded to LOTF in their music.