Study Guide: Violence in ‘Lord of the Flies’ by William Golding

When it comes to studying for your exams, digesting entire novels can be overwhelming. Reading the book a few times can help, but sometimes all you need is a little help. This study guide will work as your FAQ to answer all of the main questions about violence in William Golding’s Lord of the Flies. This study guide is not a replacement for reading the book itself, more like a little boost. Here you can find all the key questions and their answers to make studying as easy as bookmarking this webpage.

Descent into Darkness: The Brutality of Violence in “Lord of the Flies”

William Golding’s novel ‘Lord of the Flies’ explores the destructive nature of violence through the story of a group of British boys stranded on a deserted island without adult supervision. The book illustrates how the innate savagery of human nature can quickly take over and lead to violence, even in young children. Throughout the novel, Golding depicts several instances of violence that showcase the brutality of the boys and their descent into darkness.

One of the most significant acts of violence in the book is the killing of the sow. The boys become increasingly obsessed with hunting, and their need to kill becomes all-consuming. They stumble upon a female pig and, in a frenzy of bloodlust, brutally murder it. The scene is graphic and disturbing, with the boys chanting and dancing around the corpse of the animal. The killing of the sow is a turning point in the novel, as it marks the beginning of the boys’ descent into savagery.

Another violent incident in the novel is the murder of Simon. Simon is one of the few boys who remains in touch with his humanity and refuses to give in to the group’s violent tendencies. However, when he emerges from the forest during a violent storm, the other boys mistake him for the beast and attack him with sticks and rocks, ultimately killing him. The scene is horrifying, as the boys become completely consumed by their fear and hysteria.

The violence in the book is not limited to physical acts, as the boys engage in emotional and psychological violence as well. For example, Ralph, the novel’s protagonist, becomes the target of bullying and violence by the other boys. They ostracize him and threaten him with violence, showing how quickly a group can turn on an individual.

Overall, the violence in ‘Lord of the Flies’ is a powerful depiction of the darker aspects of human nature. Golding shows how even children can become savage and violent when placed in a situation that challenges their sense of morality and social order. The novel serves as a warning against the dangers of mob mentality and the importance of maintaining a civil society. It illustrates how violence can be contagious and how quickly it can spiral out of control. ‘Lord of the Flies’ is a powerful reminder of the need to resist the lure of violence and to strive for peace and cooperation in all aspects of life.

Who was William Golding?

William Golding is a British Novelist, poet, and playwright. His Britishness rubs off on many of the characters, as they were all loosely based on stereotypes of British adolescents. Golding published a further eleven novels, not just Lord of the Flies. Though, none were more successful.

Why is Lord of the Flies so violent?

Golding kept the theme of violence running through the entire novel. Even the very first chapters, arguably before chaos ensued, violence was all around them. Golding believes that there can be evil found in everyone. They must control it or less we become beasts like the boys in the book.

What is the most important scene?

There are arguably several. There is one that has garnered the most criticism and complaint from critics and educators though. The scene where the sow’s head is mounted on a spike. This scene has always been seen as gruesome and is one of the reasons the book has been banned by so many schools.

How is Jack a savage?

Jack is one of the most important instruments for Golding to illustrate his belief that all men contain evil inside them. Jack cannot cope with life on the island and becomes completely unhinged. He loses his ability to be a reasonable, civilized, person in no time at all. It takes very little pressure for Jack to crack. He becomes vile and cruel incredibly quickly.

How is violence shown in Lord of the Flies?

Violence is shown subtly in many ways. The way the island itself is described shows the kind of place it is. For example, “decimated coconut” is a very strong and harsh way of describing loose coconuts on the floor. Or the dead parachutist hanging from a tree! The island is immediately shown to be a place of death.

Who kills Piggy?

Roger eventually snaps and kills Piggy. Roger shows that he is unable to resist the call of savagery right before he kills Piggy. He smashes the conch, which represents democracy and order. Once he snubs out the remaining embers of civility he pushes the boulder that kills Piggy

Who killed Simon?

Simon is perhaps one of the only boys that managed to remain relatively sane the entire time. He doesn’t lose his ability to reason nor does he lose his compassion. Simon spends time reflecting on the beast and how it influences the boys. When he eventually shares what he has learned with the others, they kill him. They were overcome with adrenaline and blood lust from their hunt and did not want to hear what Simon had to say. This is another example of the boys rejecting civility.

How does the beast affect the boys as a whole?

The beast transforms as the story progresses throughout the book. At first, the boys believe the beast is some kind of animal. They hunt it, they slightly fear it, largely though many of them ignore it. Eventually, Simon after some internal reflection realizes that the beast is within them all. This is fundamentally different than what all of the other boys believed, so they reject the idea and kill him. Eventually, the boys begin to glorify the beast. By the end of the book, they are downright worshipping this barbaric figment of their imagination.

How is death presented in Lord of the Flies?

Death is presented as being overwhelming throughout the book. It shows up all around them from the moment they arrive. The very first thing the boys want to do is kill something. It may be for food, but the point still stands.

Why is Ralph so angry at the boys?

When they first arrive on the Island, Ralph believes that their priority should be trying to be rescued. The majority of the group is more concerned with hunting. Eventually, some of the boys watching over the signal fire neglect to watch it properly and it goes out. The other boys argue that hunting is more important. This is one of the first signs of decent. Whether you believe that the fire or hunting is more important, this is the first time the boys begin to start displaying tribalism.

Why is it called Lord of the Flies?

Many people believe that it is called “Lord of the Flies” because of the dead bodies and the flies that zoom around them. This is incorrect. It is interestingly called Lord of the Flies because of how smelly and dirty the boys become as time goes on. There are many mentions of the devil in this book, and another name for the devil is the Lord of Filth. This is a clever form of symbolism.

Who is Beelzebub?

Beelzebub is another Christian name for Satan or the Devil. Every mention of Beelzebub is a link to death, destruction, and chaos. A few other Christian themes are running through this book. This is the major one though.

What role does Maurice play?

Maurice is one of the more interesting characters. He is a bit of one foot in one foot out type character. He quickly falls to the temptation of violence, smashing kids sandcastles. However, once Piggy gets sand in his eyes Maurice stops. This shows that it is possible to refuse the temptation of violence if one tries hard enough.

Conclusion:

Hopefully, this guide will come in useful. All of the above questions are easy enough to answer in one or two sentences. The real skill comes from being able to directly quote the text. For that, you could use one of the references below or the book itself for practice.

There are a great deal of instances of violence in Lord of the Flies by William Golding. Below you will find examples of most (if not all) of them:

1 – “ ‘I cut the pig’s throat,’ said Jack, proudly, and yet twitched as he said it. ‘Can I borrow yours, Ralph, to make a nick in the hilt.” (p.73)

2 – “ ‘The was lashings of blood,’ said Jack, laughing and shuddering, ‘you should have seen it!’” (p.73)

3 – “Jack stood up as he said this, the bloodied knife in his hand. The two boys faced each other. There was the brilliant world of hunting, tactics, fierce exhilaration, skill; and there was the world of longing and baffled common-sense. Jack transferred the knife to his left hand and smudged blood over his forehead as he pushed down the plastered hair.” (p.75)

4 – “This from Piggy, and the wails of agreement from some of the hunters drove Jack to violence. The bolting look cam into his blue eyes. He took a step, and able at last to hit someone, stuck his fist into Piggy’s stomach. Piggy sat down with a grunt. Jack stood over him. His voice was vicious with humiliation.

‘You would, would you? Fatty!’

Ralph made a step forward and Jack smacked Piggy’s head. Piggy’s glasses flew off and tinkled on the rocks. Piggy cried out in terror:

‘My specs!’” (p.75)
5 – “The circle moved in and round. Robert squealed in mock terror, then in real pain.

‘Ow! Stop it! You’re hurting!’

The butt end of a spear fell on his back and he blundered among them.

‘Hold him!’

They got his arms and legs. Ralph, carried away by a sudden thick excitement, grabbed Eric’s spear and jabbed at Robert with it.

‘Kill him! Kill him!’

All at once, Robert screaming and struggling with the strength of frenzy. Jack had him by the hair and was brandishing his knife. Behind him was Roger, fighting to get close. The chant rose ritually, as the last moment of a dance or a hunt.

‘Kill the pig! Cut his throat! Kill the pig! Bash him in!’

Ralph too was fighting to get near, to get a handful of that brown, vulnerable flesh. The desire to squeeze and hurt was over-mastering.” (p.125)

6 – “He noticed, without understanding, how the flames were visible now against the dull light. Evening was come, not with calm beauty but with the threat of violence.” (p.165)

7 – “The blue-white scar was constant, the noise unendurable. Simon was crying out something about a dead man on a hill.

‘Kill the pig! Cut his throat! Spill his pig! Do him in!’

The sticks fell and the mouth of the new circle crunched and screamed. The beast was on its knees in the centre, its arms folded over its face. It was crying out against the abominable noise something about a body on the hill. The beast struggled forward, broke the ring and fell over the steep edge of the rock to the sand by the water. At once the crowd surged after it, poured down the rock, leapt on the beast, screamed, struck, bit, tore. There were no words, and no movements but the tearing of teeth and claws.” (pp.168-169)

8 – “Then there was a vicious snarling in the mouth of the shelter and the plunge and thump of living things. Someone tripped over Ralph and Piggy’s corner became a complication of snarls and crashes and flying limbs. Ralph hit out; then he and what seemed like a dozen others were rolling over and over, hitting, biting, scratching. He was torn and jolted, found fingers in his mouth and bit them. A fist withdrew and came back like a piston, so that the whole shelter exploded into light. Ralph twisted sideways on top of a writhing body and felt hot breath on his cheek. He began to pound the mouth below him, using his clenched fist as a hammer; he hit with more and more passionate hysteria as the face became slippery. A knee jerked up between his legs and he fell sideways, busying himself with his pain, and the fight rolled over him. Then the shelter collapsed with smothering finality; and the anonymous shapes fought their way out and through. Dark figures drew themselves out of the wreckage and flitted away, till the screams of the littleuns and Piggy’s gasps were once more audible.” (pp.184-185)

9 – “Jack wrenched free and swung at Ralph with his spear. By common consent they were using the spears as sabers now, no longer daring the lethal points. The blow struck Ralph’s spear and slid down, to fall agonizingly on his fingers. Then they were apart once more, their positions reversed, Jack towards the Castle Rock and Ralph on the outside towards the island.” (p.196)

10 – “No one answered him. The twins, puzzled, looked at each other; while Piggy, reassured by the cessation of violence stood up carefully. Jack glanced back at Ralph and then at the twins.

‘Grab them!’
No one moved. Jack shouted angrily.
‘I said “grab them”!’
The painted group moved round Samneric nervously and unhandily. Once more the silvery laughter scattered.
Samneric protested out of the heart of civilization.
‘Oh, I say!’
‘-honestly!’
Their spears were taken from them.
‘Tie them up!’
Ralph cried out hopelessly against the black and green mask.
‘Jack!’
‘Go on. Tie them.’

Now the painted group felt the otherness of Samneric, felt the power in their own hands. They felled the twins clumsily and excitedly. Jack was inspired. He knew that Ralph would attempt a rescue. He struck in a humming circle behind him and Ralph just parried the blow. Beyond them the tribe and the twins were a loud and writhing heap. Piggy crouched again. Then the twins lay, astonished, and the tribe stood round them.” (p.198)

11 – “Jack, knowing this was the crisis, charged too. They met with a jolt and bounced apart. Jack swung with his fist at Ralph and caught him on the ear. Ralph hit Jack in the stomach and made him grunt. Then they were facing each other again, panting and furious, but unnerved by each other’s ferocity. They became aware of the noise that was the background to this fight, the steady shrill cheering of the tribe behind them.” (p.199)

12 – “Silence and pause; but in the silence a curious air-noise, close by Ralph’s head. He gave it half his attention – and there it was again; a faint ‘Zup!’ Someone was throwing stones: Roger was dropping them, his one hand still on the lever. Below him, Ralph was a shock of hair and Piggy a bag of fat.” (p.199)

13 – “The rock struck Piggy a glancing blow from chin to knee; the conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist. Piggy, saying nothing, with no time for even a grunt, traveled through the air sideways from the rock, turning over as he went. The rock bounded twice and was lost in the forest. Piggy fell forty feet and landed on his back across that square, red rock in the sea. His head opened and stuff came out and turned read. Piggy’s arms and legs twitched a bit, like a pig’s after it has been killed. Then the sea breathed again in a long slow sigh, the water boiled white and pink over the rock; and when it went, sucking back again, the body of Piggy was gone.” (pp.200-201)

14 – “Viciously, with full intention, he hurled his spear at Ralph. The point tore the skin and flesh over Ralph’s ribs, then sheared off and fell in the water. Ralph stumbled, feeling not pain but panic, and the tribe, screaming now like the Chief, began to advance. Another spear, a bent one that would not fly straight, went past his face and one fell from high where Roger was. The twins lay hidden behind the tribe and the anonymous devils’ faces swarmed across the neck. Ralph turned and ran. A great noise of sea-gulls rose behind him. He obeyed an instinct that he did not know he possessed and swerved over the open space so that the spears went wide. He saw the headless body of the sow and jumped in time. Then he was crashing through the foliage and small boughs and was hidden by the forest.” (p.201)

15 – “The Chief snatched one of the few spears that were left and poked Sam in the ribs… The prodding became rhythmic. Sam yelled.” (p.202)

16 – “Ralph lay in a covert, wondering about his wounds. The bruised flesh was inches in diameter over his right ribs, with a swollen and bloody scar where the spear had hit him. His hair was full of dirt and tapped like the tendrils of a creeper. All over he was scratched and bruised from his flight through the forest.” (p.203)

17 – “What did it mean? A sick sharpened at both ends. What was there ion that? They had thrown spears and missed; all but one. Perhaps they would miss next time, too.” (p.212)

18 – “Roger spoke.

‘If you’re fooling us-‘

Immediately after this, there cam a gasp, and a squeal of pain. Ralph crouched instinctively. One of the twins was there, outside the thicket, with Ralph and Roger.

‘You’re sure he meant in there?’

The twin moaned faintly and then squealed again.” (p.213-214)

19 – “Something boomed up on the red rock, then the earth jumped and began to shake steadily, while the noise as steadily increased. Ralph was shot into the air, thrown down, dashed against branches. At his right hand, and only a few feet away, the whole thicket bent and the roots screamed as they came out of the earth together. He saw something red that turned over slowly as a mill-wheel. Then the red thing was past and the elephantine progress diminished towards the sea.” (p.215)

20 – “The pointed end of a stick appeared. In panic, Ralph thrust his own stick through the crack and struck with all his might.” (p.215)

21 – “Ralph launched himself like a cat; stabbed, snarling, with a spear, and the savage doubled up. There was a shout from beyond the thicket and then Ralph was running with the swiftness of fear through the undergrowth.” (p.217)

22 – “He shot forward, burst the ticket, was in the open screaming, snarling, bloody. He swung the stake and the savage tumbled over; but there were others coming towards him, crying out. He swerved as a spear flew past and then was silent, running.” (p.221)

Read the book now: Lord of the Flies by William Golding