Lord of the flies
An author's view of human behavior is often reflected in their works.The novels All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque and Lordof the Flies by William Golding are both examples of works that demonstratetheir author's view of man, as well his opinion of war. Golding's Lord of the Flies is highly demonstrative of Golding'sopinion that society is a thin and fragile veil that when removed shows manfor what he truly is, a savage animal. Perhaps the bet demonstration ofthis given by Golding is Jack's progression to the killing of the sow.Upon first landing on the island Jack, Ralph, and Simon go to survey theirnew home. Along the way the boys have their first encounter with theisland's pigs. They see a piglet caught in some of the plants. QuicklyJack draws his knife so as to kill the piglet. Instead of completing theact, however, Jack hesitates. Golding states that, "The pause was onlylong enough for them to realize the enormity of what the downward strokewould be." Golding is suggesting that the societal taboos placed onkilling are still ingrained within Jack. The next significant encounter inJack's progression is his first killing of a pig. There is a description
At one point in All Quiet on the Western Front one of thecharacters, Albert Kropp, suggests that "a deceleration of war should be apopular festival with entrance tickets and bands, like a bull fight. Even on the front, where Paul is in danger of losing his life, he acts in away directly contrasting Golding's view of man as a vicious hunter. Golding describes the killing almost as a rape. Remarque's characters, on the other hand, manage to show compassion andhumane treatment of others despite being thrust into a situation moreterrible than that of Golding's characters. He gives them cigarettes andfood. The description that Remarque uses to conveythe image of the dying horses is a very vivid one intended to provoke asense of disgust in the reader. " In this case it is certain that animal savagery is displayed by theboys. The last stage in Jack's metamorphosis is demonstrated by themurder of the sow. He deeply sympathizes with their situation despite being their enemyin name. While Golding concentratesonly on the underlying causes of war, Remarque goes on to explain itshorrors, as his is an anti-war novel. Where Golding feels war is aresult of humankind's vile nature, Remarque sees it as an evil broughtabout by only a select few. Also, in their mimicking of adult society, one of thefirst things that the boys do is establish the choir as an army or a groupof hunters. Another of the criticisms of orderly society comes when Ralphasks for a sign from the adult world.
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