Lord_of_the_Fliews_Summary

The lord of the flies Lord of the flies is about a group of school-boys that are stranded on an island without any adults. The island, in my opinion, is the most important factor of the book, other than the school boys. I think this because the way it is laid out can change the behaviour and attitude of the group. From the very first few pages the island can be perceived as being dark, strange and very mysterious. In the first paragraph of the story the island is describes as having “creepers and broken trunks” this gives the reader the impression that the island is probably deserted and desolate. The story also starts on a scar. A scar is a ‘steep craggy place.’ I think the reason for starting the story on a scar is because something that is steep and craggy gives the impression that it is very dangerous and that it wile ad to danger in the future. Later on in the book Golding describes the island outside the jungle as having ‘palm trees leaning and reclining against the light…torn grass everywhere by the upheaval of fallen trees.’ I think that this can be interpretated as the grass being the school-boys and they will soon be torn by something which is would be the palm trees. The way it is torn suggests that it was violent and that someone or something turns the children. Furthermore Golding describes the scar as ‘dark’ implying it will cause much evil as this is often associated with darkness. The scene then changes to a beach. Golding describes the beach as ‘interrupted abruptly with pink granite.’ The colour pink usually is associated with caring and loving traits however; granite is black or grey and I think pink granite is describe means that something loving and caring may turn gradually into something dark and mysterious. In this section of the book golding also describes the palm trees being’ young but there isn’t enough soil to survive’ again I think that golding is describing the actual story and that these young school-boys will soon not have much food or other essential living conditions. Soon after the conch is found, in my view I think that the conch is as important as the main characters in the book. When first introduced the conch is described as being ‘deep cream with fading pink’ cream can be seen as neutral and shares many connotations with the colour white. The conch is used to enforce law and authority and power. For it is later decided when a person speaks with the conch he must be listened to. The conch is also highly regarded in many religions in Hinduism it is regarded as a sacred object and in Buddhism many Buddhist believe it to be an object that can give success. Later on in the book, when the three boys are walking, it is described as having ‘an air of glamour’. Glamour has many connotations and some are quite negative. I think that Golding used this word for its negative impact and this would probably mean that the island is very mysterious and deceitful. When they get to a certain part of the mountain they see the coral reef and right after the trees are described. The contrast of the two is visible and makes the reader see the lovely freedom and then they read about how the trees are dark and in away stopping them from the freedom. I think it also shows how the island is going to be to the children and that it shall be very different from the outside world. In the first chapter Golding gives us various metaphors and similes that give us foreshadow into the book. He also uses various symbols to enhance his style of writing. All throughout the first chapter Golding is describing different parts of the island yet I think that he is actually telling us what shall happen in the story. This is what makes lord of the flies such a fantastic read because of the way Golding uses normal description to help understand the outcome of the book.