Savage Lands & Inner Demons (Part II): Lord of the Flies

This book was one of those featured in Part 1of the IBA Literary Society's 'Literary Discussion Series' Event entitled 'Savage Lands & Inner Demons' held in IBA Main Campus on November 25, 2010.

Title: Lord of the Flies

Author: William Golding
Year of Publication: 1954
Genre: Morality, Adventure

Available Online? No

There is a heart of darkness in every man; a palpitating, throbbing proclivity towards evil and malice, which only shows itself in times of desperation and survival. Evil resonates within the heart of humanity: call it Satan, Lucifer, capitalism, communism or the survival of the fittest. This habitual inclination of ours is often controlled and channeled through society and its fetters. But purity, piety and virtue seem to vanish when man is exposed to his primal instinct and true, carnal nature. 

The loss of innocence and man’s descent or fall into darkness is epic; after all, Adam and Eve, the first humans created by God succumbed to temptations! It seems the seed of evil and cruelty is embedded in the heart of new-born child before he or she even realizes the repercussion of what will come into fruition. This evil culminates into malice that was unimaginable and incomprehensible until one experiences the torment of its bearing. 

What could be more apt to fit this theme than the novel or the story that defined the true nature of man? 

His malice, greed, hunger for power and Darwinian urges towards survival can best be seen in the novel that aptly depicted the loss of humanity; the loss of innocence; the loss of childhood in a stride. 

‘The Lord of the Flies’, by William Golding narrates the story of young boys marooned on an island after a plane crash in what seems to be a post apocalyptic world. (Golding, 1954)

At first, the young boys try to act in unison, understanding that one half of the group should stay and watch the signal fire, making sure its lit perpetually, so that a ship can spot the children and come to rescue.

The instinctive urge to be civilized is wrought with the frustration that comes with leadership, obeying rules and acting in an ethical manner to fit into a framework of that society desires us to be. This increases the appeal of violence and brutality as well as totalitarianism. Taken from an allegorical perspective, the novel still depicts man’s descent into savagery: how a social system collapses to lead way towards anarchy and chaos. 

For any one who is a fan of twentieth century literature, this book cannot be ignored. The terror of a child's descent into darkness and the heart wrenching tale can be interpreted on so many planes; from the moment of the crash, the words in the book speak for themselves and no praise merits this gem of literature! 

Maham Usman

Source of Image: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9b/LordOfTheFliesBookCover.jpg

The Most Dangerous Game

Short Tastes - Your personal guide to the world of short stories

Writer: Richard Connell

Year of Publication: 1924

Genre: Adventure

Plot Summary:

Sanger Rainsford of New York City falls from his yacht into the sea in the middle of the night and swims to the nearest island, which is rumoured to be inhabited by something of a monstrous nature. Expecting savage cannibals on the island, Rainsford is surprised to find its owner a civilized General living in a mansion. The General is a self-proclaimed hunter and after travelling the world killing all kinds of animals, he has decided to take his profession one step further and hunt the most dangerous game in the world, an animal with reason – man. Thus starts an unbelievable chase with man both as predator and prey. Rainsford must now outwit his opponent in order to save his own life or have his head hung on the hunter’s display wall.

Comments:

An excellent story full of twists in its short length of 20 odd pages.

Excerpt:

"An apprehensive night crawled slowly by like a wounded snake and sleep did not visit Rainsford, although the silence of a dead world was on the jungle. Toward morning when a dingy gray was varnishing the sky, the cry of some startled bird focused Rainsford's attention in that direction. Something was coming through the bush, coming slowly, carefully, coming by the same winding way Rainsford had come. He flattened himself down on the limb and, through a screen of leaves almost as thick as tapestry, he watched. . . . That which was approaching was a man."

Read the complete story here!

Source of Image: http://www.paulfrasercollectibles.com/upload/public/docimages/Image/u/w/d/Frederick-Selous-rifle.jpg