With its benign climate, fresh water and abundant fruit, the island setting could be seen as a modern Garden of Eden until...on page 35...the little boy comes forward. What element does he introduce to the island? How does he describe it? How does the descriptive phrase, "the small boy twisted further into himself" hint at a theme? Which theme? How is this theme reflective of society today?
4 comments:
The little boy on the island introduces danger and fear to the island when he tells about the snake-thing. The theme described is laziness when the small boy twists further into himself. It portrays laziness because he knows it is real. Then he does not pressure the issue and the other boys decide to forget about it and laugh at him. Society today is more reactive than preventive. Such as airport security was increased drastically after 9-11. People could have predicted an event like that but decided to overlook it. Then when it happens everyone panics like when the little boy is lost. Society will never learn at this rate. IH
The little child brings in the elements of fear,danger,and low self confidence. The theme the author is portraying is mystery. The little boy can not tell excatly what it was he saw. The others have trouble believing him, but also feel that maybe he is telling the truth. Since the child gets scared and feels ashamed he simply lets that take him over and leaves the questions "What is it?" and "Did i really see anything at all?" This theme helps complete the island in a sense. How can you have the perfect "lost on an island" story without any mystery?
In the sense of the island being representative of the good ol' Garden of Eden, the "snake-thing" encompasses, symbolically, the temptation to sin. In the story of Adam and Eve, the two humans succumb to a smooth talking snake and are persuaded to defy their Creator in the act of eating the Forbidden Fruit, an apple. This hints at an evil to which the children of Lord of the Flies may fall victim. The consensus of the boy's superiors, though, is that there is no snake-thing-- figuratively, there is no malice worth fretting over. Feeling overwhelmed with inferiority and stung with humiliation, the boy, already nervous with voicing his observation, slips into a feeling of alienation. Alienation is all too prevalent today. Those who do not conform to the opinion of the masses are victimized by the masses, and are so left to themselves, feeling ridiculed.
The little boy instills fear into the island by descibing the beastie. The theme the author is decribing is fear. The fear of inner fear in pushed aside for fun and games. The purpose for society is to over shadow fear by protecting it from fear. Fear is overlooked throughout society. Fear is like the tree of knowledge. One bad apple can ruin the bunch. An example of society turning its back on fear is a white individual in a black community with gangs. The little boy is lost due to this problem in society. The downfall of society will happen due to this if it does not change its values on fear. TS
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