Lord of the Flies by William Golding
reveals the potential for disaster when a group of school boys are left to their own
devices and must choose between making good choices and aligning themselves with what
"grown-ups" would do or abandoning their sense of right and wrong, inculcated
(instilled) in them from a young age. At first all the boys, with the exception of
Piggy, can see the benefits of living without any adult supervision. Even Ralph "dreamed
pleasantly" on his first considerations of this exotic "coral island." The song
"Another Brick in the Wall," by Pink Floyd could be suitable in
considering the plot of Lord of The Flies as the story-line hinges
on the success of Ralph and his democratic style or Jack and his lawlessness. Eventually
all the boys will reject the notion of respectability. The song speaks of "no education"
and "no thought control," and the consequences, for the boys, are dramatic. The song is
also threatening, suggesting a building up to a climax, much as we find in the novel.
Ralph is the perfect choice for chief due to his
background. He knows there needs to be rules and procedures and it does not take him
long to begin work on the shelters and fire. He credits his abilities to his father, "a
Navy Commander," and is confident that his father will rescue them all. However, he
sometimes becomes overwhelmed with the responsibility of being "chief" and after Piggy's
death, he must hide himself away to stay safe. The Queen song, Under
Pressure would suit Ralph's situation as he feels the "terror of
knowing."
Jack could be described from the first verse of
Queen's song, "I want To Break Free." He is so desperate to
separate himself from everything civilized and is obsessed with the opportunity to hunt
pigs. Ultimately, his obsession will lead to Simon's death.
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