The Brit. Lit. text we will be using in the fall defines allegory as: A narrative work or drama in which almost all the characters, settings, and events are symbols representing abstract ideas and in which the overall purpose is to teach a moral lesson. In the last post I mentioned symbolism and how almost all events, actions, objects, and characters seem to represent something larger, but let’s look at the “big picture”. If we look at the story as an allegory, we can assume that the boys’ island, as previously stated is that microcosmic society Golding has created. The actions of the boys emulate those of the adults in the world they were forced to flee in the evacuation plane. Ralph and Jack detach forming two separate governments (some have speculated each is the Axis and Allied forces from the WWII time period) these opposing governments begin a war, similar to the adults. There is confrontation and death in the story just like the adult world they have left behind. At the end, the boys are rescued by the naval officer offering a seemingly unrealistic ending to the savage reality the boys have created. Again, at the end, there is a sense of irony when the British Naval Officer asks if the boys have been having a war, and then replies, “I should have thought that a pack of British boys – you’re all British aren’t you? – would have been able to put up a better show than that – I mean -”. This is ironic because as a reader we find ourselves questioning who will save the adults involved in the war from themselves. Although the ending of the book is hopeful toward the boys who have been saved, what does it say about the possibility of saving mankind from ourselves?
The possibility of saving mankind from ourselves is nonexistent, that no one will be able to show up and make it all better. War is so ingrained into the mind as something needed to solve issues in this world. Mankind cannot be saved if it doesn't wish to be.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kristina in the sense that mankind will never be saved. There is no real way to settle differences without some sort of argument. The boys in the book, I believe, represented how easily mankind can be corrupted over a power struggle and the others not knowing what to really do but follow orders. There is no hope for peace if there is always that one person that wishes for power.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Rosie and Kristina in that mankind can not be saved if they don't want to. We are selfish people. Everyone wants power but not everyone can have it. In order for us to be saved we would have to change who we are and stop being selfish and compromise. It is the same for the book if the adult wouldn't have came the boys would have met thier distruction because they couldn't compromise.
ReplyDeleteI agree with all of the girls. Unfortunately, when the few who are like Piggy and Ralph stand up to the rest of the world, there is no comparison. The savages of today, most of the human kind, are ruining and killing this world. By the time change is imperative, there will be no turning back. We are a species who creates new things out of selfishness, and in the end will end our own world.
ReplyDeleteThis situation shows that ignorance, inspired by a kind of pride, would always stop us. The officers were completely blind to the allegory that the boys represent them. In the face of a perfect example of society they chose to ignore it, feeling that this was the work of uncivilized children. In reality they too would, and often do, act the same way. It shows that the nature of most humans seems to point towards chaos. Also, we resist lessons that would make us admit that we are imperfect.
ReplyDelete