Golding uses deep symbolism to prove that inherent evil resides within every person, even a child. The image of the terrible beast is a symbol of the growing cruelty of the boys, which leads to horrific consequences. “There isn’t no beast – not with claws and all that,” the boys argue (Golding 52). This line reveals the main meaning of the novel: the most terrible beast is a human. Golding reveals the archetypes of human behavior as originating in the primitive laws of animal survival. Offering gifts to the Lord of the Flies is an act of sacrifice, an ancient ritual dating back to the dawn of humanity. Demonstrating a return to these ancient rituals, Golding notices that a human quickly returns to its primitive existence in isolation from civilization. Golding proves that civilization leaves an imprint on human behavior, but in terms of survival, a person returns to the primitive wild appearance. The symbols allow Golding to reveal the unpalatable truth that evil is hidden in every person, waiting for the moment to come out.
Work Cited
Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. United Kingdom, Penguin Group US, 1959.