Search - Lord of the Flies

Golding depicts in a nasty and disturbing way a group of "civilized" youngsters morphing into animals (not literally). One has to question that if our laws and societal rules were somehow taken away, would we digress to survival of the fittest? Although not the quickest read, this book will certainly cause you to think about societal constructs we create and how willing we are to uphold them in a time of crisis. Recommended for those who appreciate classics and those who want a little something more to think about.

One of the books I was forced to read in school that I ended up loving so much I read it again as an adult!

Human nature is evil! Want a classic book on what man does without law and authority? Want a classic book on what is in the heart of a man? Want a classic book that makes a powerful statement on what little kids will do to each other if not taught to be good and to love? Want a classic book on what man continues to do and will continue to do each other til' the good Lord comes back and makes things right? Read this book.

So weird, yet with evil so believable that it made it hard to read. I bristled with anger at the characters' behavior.

The ending bit, but wow did the book hit me in the gut. I'm glad to be done with it, honestly.

This book is another uncomfortable but necessary book to read. Although not my favorite - I don't like books that make me uncomfortable - it gives us a chance to study the power of the natural man. What would we do with no one watching. What would our children do on a deserted island without us. These are worthy thoughts to be explored. How do we govern ourselves? How do we lead? And most importantly, how important is strength of character in our lives?

So much forshadowing in this one! The symbolism gives much to be explored. I am sure my children and I will have a few discussions about this one when they finish it for their class. I was puzzled by a few things in the ending...I need to get out the cliff notes for some help here.

"Maybe there is a beast....maybe it's only us."

Lord of the Flies is a tragic exploration of unrestrained human nature and the "beast" inside. The novel uses a group of school boys as an allegorical representation of human society. Stranded on a deserted island, the boys begin as a civilized society and the lure of power and dominance gradually leads them to savagery.

The characterization was brilliant, each character representing a place on the spectrum on human nature -- from the civilized member of society to the savage, unrestrained side of human nature.

I found the book a little slow, I was about 60% of the way through the book before it really picked up for me. Some of the dialogue was difficult to follow, even in a two-person conversation as the speaker wasn't always specified.

I didn't read Lord of the Flies in school, and I'm glad I didn't. I'm not sure I would have understood it. Even now, I think there are lots of symbolic messages in the first half of the book that I failed to pick up on. It's definitely a book that I'll be re-reading to get the full effect.