Lord of the Flies, William Golding's first novel explores the themes of adolescence, 'man's inhumanity to man' and failure of small societies to succeed when individuals act out of personal desires rather than out of recognition for the 'common good'. In the beginning of the book, the boys are stranded on a deserted island. They seem somewhat excited that they will be able to live without the rules of the 'adult world'. They thought they had found the ultimate freedom where they could be in control - (every kids desire). In the opening chapters of the book, the boys seem very excited and jubilant having the opportunity to live without adults. When Ralph states, "While we're waiting we can have a good time" (p. 38),or when the boys clamour to compare their experience to Treasure Island, Coral Island or the Swallows and the Amazons, it is evident that they are enthused by the opportunity. What is also evident as the story progresses is that the lack of rules leads to anarchy and destruction. By the end of the novel, the group once fairly close friends was destroyed - Piggy and Simon having been murdered and the others relieved at the presence of the return of the adults to their world.
Most teens dream of a world where they don't have to worry about getting up for school, meeting a curfew and doing chores around the house, or handing in assignments on time ... They seem to detest the fact that these rules are imposed by adults. However, even Jack recognized the need for rules when he said, "We'll have rules! ... Lots of rules."
The failure that the boys face is foreshadowed when he issues a threat if the rules are broken, and the others chime in with suggestions for consequences. Jack, like Napoleon in the book, Animal Farm assumes that authority is power, but he failed to recognize that with authority comes responsibility. Like Napoleon who allied himself with the pigs and had
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