Human Nature and Philosophy in Lord of the Flies by...

Two philosophers of different eras tackle the same topic, human nature, and a great argument breaks out. Is man inherently evil, like William Golding believes? Or is man good at heart but inevitably becomes corrupted by the society he lives in, as said by Jean Jacques Rousseau? Both philosophers have very strong opinions and well reasoning for what they believe. Golding’s views are displayed well throughout his novel, Lord of the Flies; a tale about strong minded, young boys stranded on an island who must find a way to survive on their own. After reading this novel, I found myself agreeing much with Rousseau’s views on human nature. Jean Jacques Rousseau was a French philosopher who believed that man was born with a pure heart and good intentions; however, society inevitably corrupted man. He believed that any desire to be a good person must be internally initiated from the one seeking it. Once man has immersed himself into society, he allows himself to be persuaded that being good is not the only way of life. William Golding believed that man was inherently evil. He was alive during one of the most gruesome wars of history, WWII. His experiences in the war significantly impacted his life and thus negatively influenced his views on human nature. Whilst in service, he came to the firm conclusion that humans are much more savage than he once thought. Man kills his brother so easily, and does not seem emotionally affected by it. Throughout William Golding’s novel, Lord ofShow MoreRelatedLord Of The Flies Character Analysis Essay1414 Words   |  6 Pages Analysis of Societal Constructs Displayed in LORD â€Å"We hold these truths to be sacred and undeniable; that all men are created equal and independent, that from that equal creation they derive rights inherent and inalienable, among which are the preservation of life, and liberty, and the pursuit of happiness†. This famous phrase that derives from the Declaration of Independence brought forth notion that of all of humanity is to be acknowledged as equal and are guaranteed rights of life which are toRead MoreLord of the Flies by William Golding835 Words   |  3 PagesThe Lord of The Flies, an amazing and controversial book written by William Golding does have some interesting views on society. If you look on the surface you see some kids who are doing what kids do and that is to be crazy and have fun. However, if you look deeper youll find the roots of Goldings beliefs on society and humanity as a whole. Its more of a pessimistic view. Theres also the view of Jean Jacques Rousseau, the author of Dissertation on the Origin and Foundation of the InequalityRead MoreGood Versus Evil in Lord of the Flies by William Golding Essay1235 Words   |  5 Pagesyears ago, Charles Darwin introduced a theory that we humans are a species which evolved from animals that have inhabited the Earth for many years, and he believed that we were civilized, intelligent, and logical life forms for these very reasons. In the novel, Lord of the Flies by William Golding there is a prominent theme of good versus evil which reveals that maybe humans are not the civilized human beings that they were said to be. William Golding carefully netted this theme with his utilization ofRead MoreLord of the Flies and World War Ii1737 Words   |  7 Pagesthings such as social and political environments can impact literature. British involvement in WWII directly influenced Goldings novel, Lord of the Flies. As all authors use their life and times as reference points in their works, Golding drew heavily on sociological, cultural, and milit ary events. Lord of the Flies is an allegorical parallel to the world, as Golding perceived it. The island, the boys, and many other objects and events described in his work represent Goldings view of the world andRead MoreWilliam Golding Research Paper838 Words   |  4 PagesMay 2012 Through the Eyes of William Golding William Golding was an amazing and artistic author. His versatile writings, visionary view on life, and the way he inputted subtle and special hints of his religious views are what made his career. Goldings life began on September 19, 1911 when he was born in UK, St. Columb Minor to a Mr. and Mrs. Golding. Alex Golding, his father, was a schoolteacher. While Mildred Golding, his mother, was a suffragette. Although Golding was born in St. Columb MinorRead MoreThe Theme of Lord of the Flies Essay930 Words   |  4 Pagesprimitive nature of the boys surfaces. Consequently, the boys live without luxury that could have been obtained had they maintained a society on the island. Instead, these young boys take advantage of their freedom, and life as they knew it deteriorates. Lord of the Flies is influenced by the authors life and experiences. Goldings outlook on life changes, due to his heavy involvement in W.W.II, to his current philosophy that quot;The shape of society must depend on the ethical nature of the individualRead MoreWilliam Golding s Lord Of The Flies1444 Words   |  6 Pagesabout William Golding and his most famous book, Lord of the Flies, in which a group of Britis h schoolboys - aged from around 6-12 - become stranded on an island, and quickly begin their descent into chaos. Today, I am joined by literarian and William Golding expert, Lara Caglar. Expert Hi, Vanessa, it’s a pleasure to be here Interviewer Together, we will be discussing the question on everyone’s minds, what happened to Golding that led him to have such an incredibly negative view of human natureRead MorePhilosophy of Rouseau and Lord of the Flies by William Golding666 Words   |  3 Pagescivilizations, humans are good beings with empathy, kindness, and well-developed morals. However, he believed that societies corrupt our morals and are what make the change in us to become â€Å"evil† or â€Å"bad†. The author of the novel Lord of the Flies, William Golding, however, believed that in a primitive environment, humans are evil. Without a society watching over us, humans will become barbaric brutes. Jean-Jacques Rousseau (born 1712) was a philosopher whose beliefs were that humans, in a naturalRead MoreThe Nature of Humans in Lord of the Flies by William Golding651 Words   |  3 PagesThe nature of human: are humans born good or evil? These two opposing views on human nature are two topics that Rousseau and Golding have both touched upon. While Golding believes that humans are born inherently evil, Rousseau believes the opposite: that humans are inherently good. Golding wrote the novel Lord of the Flies as a response of the novel, The Coral Island by R.M. Ballantyne because he believed that it was far-fetched. In this novel Ballantyne’s main characters are able to enjoy theirRead MoreAllegory and Symbols in Lord of the Flies by William Golding Essay1079 Words   |  5 PagesThe Lord of the Flies is a novel hardly definable that bounders among many genres. Though we may find typical characteristics of adventure, dystopian or religious fiction, the dealing of symbols tu rn this as a potentially allegorical novel which can be studied and interpreted through different visions and perspectives. Characters and objects resemble behaviors, historical processes, personality styles and emotions. The narrator found in these the â€Å"objective correlative† to evoke different emotions