WordPress.com



Lord Of The Flies:Character Essay PlansLaura Wells 11C/11G1?Ralph:INTRO: Golding’s dystopian novel “Lord of the Flies” relies heavily upon the portrayal of Ralph as its protagonist to portray its message. Throughout the novel, Ralph is a symbol of civilization and order. Therefore, as his power diminishes and the novel progresses, Golding is able to show how “mankind’s essential illness” can infect even the strongest and most moral of innocents.?PEEL P1: LEADERSHIP> From the outset, Ralph is presented as a civilized, fair leader which Golding reveals later to be open to corruption.=> “the fair boy” Adjectival choices to describe his appearance, connotations of democracy from the start.=> “most powerfully, there was the conch” Linking Ralph to the symbol of the conch; analyse adverb “powerfully,” link to Ralph’s power at the start.=> “Jack and Ralph smiled at each other with shy liking.” Relationship with Jack creates juxtaposition of leadership from outset. Shows mutual intimidation (adjective shy) but their respect for one another (positive verb smiled).PEEL P2: THEME: CIVILISATION V SAVAGERY> As the novel progresses, Ralph’s civilised nature is challenged but he largely remains true to his ideals, with the power of the conch and Piggy to guide him.=> p80 “his fair hair was plastered over his eyebrows and he pushed it back” Golding uses the metaphor of hair to represent savagery. Of all the boys with long hair, Ralph is solitary in trying to rid himself of it.=> p142 “The desire to squeeze and hurt was over-mastering” Even Ralph, the civilised boy has the capacity within to be evil and hurtful when caught up in the moment. Analyse strong verbs, shows Ralph’s strength of character, even the strongest make mistakes.?PEEL P3: MESSAGE> At the close of the novel, Golding uses the character of Ralph to spell his message out clearly for the reader.=> “Ralph wept for the... darkness of man’s heart” Metaphor of the ‘darkness’ used to portray the evil that every person is capable of. Coming from a child => INNOCENCE=> p227 “It was an accident” CR pg 193- Piggy says the same thing. Ralph is in denial of the essential evil, portrays theme of INNOCENCE.=> p228 “They were savages it was true, but they were human.” Ralph has hope that humanity is not lost. Golding portrays the importance of forgiveness and understanding.CONCLUSION:Through his characterisation of Ralph, and the cyclic development of his character from civilised to almost savage to civilised again, Golding is able to portray his message and warn his readers about the “darkness in man’s heart” and the ability of almost everyone to succumb to the temptation of evil. The injustice that the protagonist experiences is the medium through which Golding encourages the reader, and to an extent himself, to learn from the injustice he witnessed during WWII.Jack:INTRO: Throughout his dystopian novel “Lord of the Flies,” Golding presents the character of Jack as the main antagonist of the fable. In his characterisation of Jack, Golding provides a clear example of his message- the dangers of “mankind’s essential illness.” Through the device of Jack’s descent into savagery, Golding is able to show how a catalytic leader can turn into a violent killer, due to “darkness in man’s heart.”?PEEL P1: POWER STRUGGLE> Significant from the outset are the relationship and the differences between Jack and Ralph, the novel’s protagonist.=> “his hair was red” Connotations of red hair are different to Ralph’s “fair hair” => anger and fire.=> “Jack and Ralph smiled at each other with shy liking.” Shows mutual intimidation (adjective shy) but their respect for one another (positive verb smiled).=> “the Chief” Shows Jack’s fascist leadership style, which Golding doesn’t question the effectiveness of, just the morality. Juxtaposed to the final page, shows that even the worst crimes can be redeemed.?PEEL P2: THEME: CIVILISATION V SAVAGERY> As the novel progresses, the character of Jack becomes more entwined with the obsession of the hunt, and the power that is associated with the kill, which distances him further from Ralph’s civilisation.=> MASKS, “the face of red and white and black” Golding uses the device of warpaint to reveal Jack’s character traits, as well as to liberate Jack from “shame and self-consciousness.” White- contrast. Red- blood, danger. Black- darkness, death.=> We’ll close in and beat and beat and beat” Repetition and rule of 3 to emphasise the brutal verb “beat” to display the savage nature of Jack in his dialogue.?PEEL P3: THEME: CONFLICT> Throughout the novel, Golding portrays Jack as a catalytic character who constantly creates conflict within the boys’ ‘society.’=> “you’re breaking the rules” “who cares?” Juxtaposition of Jack and Ralph reveals their differences and creates the potential for conflict. Followed by strong language “Bollocks to the rules,” displays Jack’s growing power.=> refuses “to be part of Ralph’s lot” Creates a chasm between the two characters that begin to show the two sides of human nature. Ralph: logic and democracy. Jack: passion and quick decisions.CONCLUSION:Although it may seem that Golding created the character of Jack to create conflict contrary to the “Coral Island” idealism of the boys’ situation at the outset of the novel, we learn through his character development that he serves a higher purpose. He shows the capability of men, “mankind’s essential illness,” that Golding had experienced in himself in the aftermath of his role in WWII. Therefore, through the character of Jack, Golding warns us of the “darkness in man’s heart,” his purpose in the fable “Lord of the Flies.”Piggy:INTRO: Throughout his dystopian novel “Lord of the Flies,” Golding presents the character of Piggy as defenceless and weak to act as a symbol for all that is vulnerable in society. Through this symbolism, Golding is able to show the condemnation of the weak by the strong due to the “darkness in man’s heart.” Piggy is victimised to show the injustice within society and therefore the need to change our actions.?PEEL P1: VULNERABILITY> Golding characterises Piggy in such a way that instantly marks him as vulnerable and therefore open to torment.=> “on account of my asthma” Piggy is inferior to the other boys in something as basic and essential as breathing. Important that we learn of this before we even know his name. Vulnerability is more of his character than his name.=> “I can hardly see!” Piggy relies upon his glasses for vision and metaphorically, he relies upon them for mental clarity.=> “what intelligence has been shown was traceable to Piggy.” The only strength in Piggy’s character is his superior intellect, but he is unable to articulate himself due to his cockney idiolect.?PEEL P2: THEME: CIVILISATION V SAVAGERY> Of all of the characters, Piggy is portrayed as the most civilised due to his reverence of the conch and the refusal of his hair to grow.=> “talisman, the fragile, shining beauty of the shell,” Noun ‘talisman’ displays the admiration that Piggy has for the conch, the symbol of civilisation on the island. Links him strongly to the theme of civilisation. Makes him vulnerable.=> “He was the only boy on the island whose hair refused to grow,” Long hair is a metaphor of the ability of savagery to cloud their moral ‘sight.’ Piggy is distanced from this by his short hair.?PEEL P3: DEATH> Piggy’s brutal and unforgiving death reveals to the reader how far gone the boys are, it reveals the darkness in their hearts.=> “the conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist” Golding chooses to destroy Piggy and the conch simultaneously to reveal his connection to civilisation and to reveal the savagery in the other boys.=> “the true, wise friend called Piggy” Golding reveals the positives of Piggy’s character in the wake of his death. We never know Piggy’s real name, only the debilitating and cruel nickname.CONCLUSION:Piggy is presented throughout the novel as a vulnerable character that consequently faces much discrimination and cruelty at the hand of the cruel savages. Through this relentless bullying, Golding displays “mankind’s essential illness” and the way in which it infects every boy on the island, culminating in first the death of Simon and then the death of Piggy. Through the medium of Piggy’s character, Golding is able to express the injustice of the killing of civilians he witnessed during his role in WWII.Roger:INTRO: Golding constructs the character of Roger carefully, only hinting at his capacity for evil at the start. As the novel progresses, we learn of Roger’s importance. Golding created Roger with a purpose to explain “mankind’s essential illness” to the reader. Roger’s increased capacity for darkness is a symbol for the evil which exists within society and therefore the need to change.?PEEL P1: FOREBODING> From the outset of the novel, Roger is signified to the reader as being a catalytic character to watch out for.=> “inner intensity of avoidance and secrecy” Noun and adjectival choices display foreboding of his character. => “shock of black hair...made what had seemed at first an unsociable remoteness into something forbidding” connotations of black hair, evil. Unsociable nature transforms into potential for real violence.=> “he was noticeably darker” Left ambiguous, could mean his skin tone but has metaphorical value as describing his character.PEEL P2: THEME: CIVILISATION V SAVAGERY> Although not as powerful as Jack, Roger has a savage capacity that is much greater and is revealed to the reader sooner than Jack’s.=> p78 “Roger’s arm was conditioned by a civilisation that knew nothing of him and was in ruins” at this point, Roger still has civilisation within him, but the mention of the destroyed civilisation at home reveals that it won’t be long until he ignores its values.=> p167“prodding with his spear wherever pigflesh appeared” can be seen as a metaphor for Roger’s savagery => he attacks wherever there is vulnerability.PEEL P3: PIGGY’S DEATH> Towards the end of the novel, Golding reveals the true capability of Roger and therefore the true extent of 2the darkness in man’s heart.”=> “Roger sharpened a stick at both ends” Metaphor for the inescapability of Roger’s grasp. Ralph won’t be able to escape either the hunt or something more sinister, the spreading “essential illness.”=> “hangman’s horror” connotations of ‘hangman’ are death and violence, savage concepts for a young boy. Golding shows that evil is harboured even by the very young.CONCLUSION:In his characterisation of Roger, Golding reveals to the reader the extent of “mankind’s essential illness” within a young boy and therefore reveals to the reader that everyone is susceptible to the injustice that he witnessed during his time as a fighter pilot in WWII. The vicious and cruel nature of Roger can be seen as a warning to the reader of what we are all capable of.Simon:INTRO: Golding uses the character of Simon to display the “darkness in man’s heart.” When Simon’s vulnerability and goodness are juxtaposed to the violence and evil within the other boys, it becomes clear to the reader that “mankind’s essential illness” can be controlled.?PEEL P1: CHRIST FIGURE> Drawing great religious connotations to the character of Simon throughout the novel, Golding displays Simon as a Christ figure to better display his unique essential goodness.=> “Simon found for them the fruit that they could not reach” Direct parallel to the fable in the Bible, the feeding of the masses. Reveals Simon as essentially good, only bigun’ who helps the littlun’s.=> “more sunlight fell,” “honey-coloured sunlight,” “candle-buds.” Simon is associated with light. Spiritual, positive and uplifting. Reinforces essential goodness.=> “The water rose further and dressed Simon’s coarse hair with brightness.” The harmony of the island is restored for Simon after his death. Like Christ, his death was brutal but afterwards, there is peace and light.PEEL P2: PERCEPTION> Golding characterises Simon as perceptive so as to reveal insights on the boys and the island in his dialogue.=> “Simon became inarticulate in his effort to express mankind’s essential illness.” Simon’s perceptive nature has allowed Golding to reveal his message early on in the novel. Adjective ‘inarticulate’ hints youth.=> “There was a blackness within, a blackness that spread.” Simon’s conversation with the Lord of the Flies reveals the truth in his earlier words. The spreading blackness is a metaphor for the growing savagery in the boys.PEEL P3: DEATH> Golding uses the death of Simon to reveal for the first time the unforgiving nature of the boy’s “essential illness”.=> “It was crying out against the abominable noise” Simon fights the boys’ evil until the very end. Adjective ‘abominable’ reflects what the boys have become- something that shouldn’t exist. Extent of evil.=> “no movements but the tearing of teeth and claws” Reveals the extent of the boy’s savage nature. Connotations of ‘teeth and claws’ => animalistic, savage.CONCLUSION:In his characterisation of Simon, Golding reveals to the reader the goodness within some members of society and the injustice they face from others due to their rejection of “mankind’s essential illness.” He also uses the character of Simon to reveal this “illness” to the reader, through his dialogue and the pivotal conversation with the Lord of the Flies. Golding encourages the reader to be more like Simon with the promise of a peaceful afterlife in order to convey the need to change after the evil he witnessed during his time as a fighter pilot in WWII.SamnericINTRO: Golding uses the characters Sam and Eric to display the “darkness in man’s heart.” Golding uses the two characters to represent the well-meaning members of the public who follow the rules of whoever is in charge. Through the loss of their well-meaning intentions into their assimilation into the hunters after Piggy’s death, Golding hints at the complexity of evil and its ability to spread uncontrollably.?PEEL P1: RELIANCE AND UNITY> Golding displays the twins as different to the others, entirely dependent on each other and the group mentality that comes with being twins.=> “Samneric” Ridding them of individual identities. They become more powerful, coveted by Jack’s tribe.=> “they breathed together, they grinned together.” Repetition, parallel phrasing, emphasises their togetherness and hence the power they possess.=> p220 “the otherness of Samneric, felt the power in their own hands.” Sets the twins out as different to the other boys; Jack covets the power that they possess.PEEL P2: THEME: CONFLICT> When Sam and Eric fight, Golding conveys the terrifying nature of the boy’s conflict- so deeply rooted that brothers turn on one another.=> “Sam and Eric, locked in an embrace, were fighting one another.” This challenges the usual connotations of an ‘embrace’ between brothers. Suggests that things on the island are completely different to back at home. Piggy is so disturbed because they are brothers- Golding wants us to be disturbed because all men are brothers and we still fight.PEEL P3: WEAKNESS> Golding characterises the twins as susceptible to the rising tide of savagery to create a warning to the reader that we must all be careful to not follow this example.=> p230 “Memory of their new and shameful loyalty came to them” Samneric’s essential weakness, disloyal. Become caught up in the excitement of the savages and betray Ralph, the only fragment of goodness left.=> “The twin moaned faintly and then squealed again” Samneric aren’t strong enough to stand up to torture, and so betray Ralph’s confidence.CONCLUSION:In his characterisation of Samneric, Golding is able to represent the weakness within society. He uses their eventual betrayal of Ralph to portray mankind’s essential weakness, the willingness to conform, even to the wrongdoers. Through this, Golding portrays the need to change and diverge from the “darkness in man’s heart” after the evil he witnessed during his time as a fighter pilot in WWII. ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download