Golding’s examination of the human state continues to be a popular read because it forces the reader to consider fundamental aspects of the human condition. Golding’s simple premise forces readers to confront issues of authority and power. Golding’s goal is to make the reader see the imperfections of humanity and remove all distractions. Citizens of modern society have created defense mechanisms against our harsh and violent species by their political ideologies. Golding’s removal of these defense mechanisms exposes the true natures of power, authority, humanity. All of the preconceived notions and defenses we have against humanity are eliminated by symbols. These include democracy, autocracy, conch, and the leader of the choir. Golding effectively challenges the reader by allowing him to use his variety of literary devices to show a life that is chaotic.
We are not familiar with a world that lacks order and authority. We live by rules. We know the existence of police, military and government to provide protection against something. Golding challenges us to think critically about whether we really know what that something might be. Ralph’s character and the conch, which is a symbol of order and authority, are emblematic of democracy. Golding contrasts Jack with Ralph to highlight the difference between unrestrained power, which is autocracy, as well as power moderated and manifested in democracy. Ralph is elected through the “toys of voting”, while Jack gains power by sheer force. The flames, which “crept like jaguars”, make the forest “savagely with smoke and fire” and are symbolic of Jack’s rise. The preceding events support this metaphor. Piggy, the source for the power, is “snatched…off her face” (Jack), a character built on abrasiveness as well as autocracy. Golding symbolizes each character associated notion with an object companion, a symbol representing their primary characteristics. Ralph, the symbol of authority, is equipped with “the conch”, a tool that allows him to order people. Jack, by contrast, has a knife that grants him the power of control over life and death as well as the ability to create fear and power in order to assemble people. Other characters also follow this example. Golding illustrates the dilemma of intelligence versus leadership by saying, “What intelligence was shown was traceable through Piggy”; a reference to the idea authority and power may not always go to those deserving of them or capable of handling them. Ralph is unable to think “not like Piggy”. Golding ultimately explores authority and discusses the problems of a society that does not have it. He also compares power structures to authority. Golding challenges the respondent’s thinking about power and the need for authority to manage power. The concept of power is at the heart of human existence and has been for all time. Nearly all wars have been driven by the need to gain power. Power is central to everything we see as “savage” in civilized societies, regardless of whether it’s for wealth, land, or religion. Golding engages readers directly in the power fight by using symbolic characterisations that represent common structures for power. Jack is the inventor of the chant. This motif has become synonymous with Jack’s desire for power as well as their descent into violence. The chant evolves as the story progresses but the pattern remains the same. This chant is about group-think, and its relationship to the power. It’s not hard to see why divide and conquer is so popular. Divide and conquer is not the same thing as unite, and this could be why otherwise innocent boys become savages. Group-think can lead to identity loss and dehumanization. This phenomenon is illustrated by Golding’s use of the symbolism and imagery of a “new-face” to illustrate it. The story’s climax is when Ralph and all the other boys are “liberated” from shame, self-consciousness, and they are now referred to as “the Savages”, effectively eliminating their identity. The “group of painted boy” is now called “Percival Wemys Madison”. This happens because the illusion of power by anonymity is fading away when there is civilized authority. Golding uses this psychological phenomenon to emphasize the fact that people can become “savages” if they have power. Power is not controlled by authority or order. Golding’s connections between uncontrolled, group-mentality, moral devolution and power force the reader into contemplating the possibility that anyone can descend to the level or savages depending on their circumstances.
The debate between power and authority has been a constant theme in human history for many millennia. Golding asked the extended hypophoric “Which option is better, to have laws and agreement or to hunt & kill?” each side being a part of the story. The answer to this question is clearer as the story progresses. Absolute power eventually gives way to impulsivity, then to savagery (taking a head of a pig for no reason and killing Simon), order loses its hold. This leads to a rapid decline and destruction of civility. Golding effectively argues that humans are not innocent in nature. He does this by using a variety of literary devices. The audience will be able to understand the ideas explored in the text and also the human condition.