Koc 1
Krystina Koc
December 1st 2014
Mr. Altomari
ENG3U1-05
Evolution: Is it possible to revert? When boys are left alone on an island, they are prone to ‘de-evolve’, sometimes even into violence. Lord of the Flies by William Golding is a great example of how boys act without the influence of society around them. Boys at a young age can react to many things, which in turn contribute to their ‘de-evolving’ and transition in to violence. In William Golding’s Lord of the Flies the boys ‘de-evolve’ into extreme violence throughout the story by refusing to conform, the fear of the “Beastie”, and through the character of Jack. The boys ‘de-evolve’ on the island as they refuse to conform to the rules of their new society. The boys refusing to conform to their rules allow them to do whatever they please, which turns them into savages, as they do not have respect for anyone. Initially, when the hunters never kept the fire lit, they already subconsciously started to ignore the rules of their society. “‘I was chief, and you were going to do what I said. You talk. But you can’t even build huts- then you go off hunting and let the fire out-‘” (Golding 74). Also, when Piggy held the conch the boys ignored the rule of the person holding the conch is the only one to speak and they began to yell over each other. “ ‘I got the conch,’ said Piggy indignantly. ‘You let me speak’ … ‘ I got the conch-‘ Jack turned fiercely. ‘You shut up!’” (Golding 42). The boys did not wish to conform to Ralph’s rules; instead they wished to have their own rules, which they also choose not to follow. This allows the boys to do whatever they please and Ralph doesn’t do much to stop them. This soon allows the boys to transform into two groups, where Jack’s group fully does not listen to any rules. When the boys
Koc 2 refuse to conform this helps them to ‘de-evolve’ as they have no guidelines of what they should and should not do. They start to forget how to act like human beings and start turning slowly into savages at this point. “ Before long. The boys’ immaturity and irresponsibly are clear and are a source of frustration to Ralph and Piggy. … Immaturity and irresponsibility soon give way to violence and fear-inspired frenzy as the last vestiges of the veneer of civilization disappear.” (Kelly & Barratt). As a result, the boys refusal to conform slowly lead them to their ‘de-evolution’, which in turn slowly turn them into savages. Furthermore, the boys also began to ‘de-evolve’ through their fear of the “Beastie”. With the fear of a beast in the boys mind, they try and kill the beastie but they forget about the necessities they will require. To begin with, when the boy with the Mulberry birthmark starts a rumour that there is a “Beastie” the boys start to get worried. When he dies the boys start to get even more scared as he was the only one who knew where the beast was. “ ‘He wants to know what you’re going to do about the snake-thing’ … Now he says it was a beastie.’” (Golding 34) “ The little boys screamed at them. ‘Snake! Snake! Look at the snakes!’ ‘ That little ‘un had a mark on his – face – where is – he know? I tell you I don’t see him.’” (Golding 47). As well, when the boys kill Simon because they thought he was the beastie, this shows how the boys fear has already taken control over them and has turned them into savages. “ The blue-white scar was constant, the noise unendurable. Simon was crying out something about a dead man on a hill. ‘Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood! Do him in!’ … There were no words, and no movements but the tearing of teeth and claws.” (Golding 168-169). The boys are not old enough to know how to deal with the fear created by the “Beastie”; as a result they allow the fear to control them. Through this the boys slowly start to ‘de-evolve’ with the ending result of them killing Simon and resorting to extreme base

Koc 3 violence. Boys at this young age cannot fathom their thoughts into proper actions. With