Essay, Research Paper: "heroic And Sick" - What Does It Mean?

"...heroic and sick."



William Golding, in his book Lord of The Flies, views mankind as being, "at once heroic and sick." He suggests that mankind is indeed a barbaric savage race that masks itself through cooperation, balance and organization in society. I agree with Golding's statement that man is, "heroic," however, savagery lies within each one, "sick."
William Golding was born in England in 1911. His lifetime took him through two world wars, the second of which he was an active participant. He saw powerful dictators rise and fall, innocent victims of war casualties, and the massive slaughter of the holocaust, caused by the evil of one dictator's, "beast." To support his truth about man being, "...once heroic and sick(113)," Golding uses imagery in the setting, character, and the events.
Golding's novel is set on a beautiful Pacific island. He begins using imagery right from the beginning of the novel. The island appeared pure and lush, like the Garden of Eden. Upon the arrival of mankind, the plane crash left a scar on the island bringing a part of the cruel world they had left behind, "Didn't you hear what the pilot said? About the atom bomb? They're all dead(14)."
The boys are dispersed all over the island. Ralph finds it necessary to reunite the boys, the discovery of the conch shell becomes a link to society and order, "...a harsh note boomed under the palms(18)." "Signs of life were visible now on the beach(19)." Even with the conch calling to society, "Clouds of birds rose from the tree tops...something squealed and ran in the undergrowth.(18)" The introduction of something strange into a new world is somehow alien and evil to the island paradise.
The setting is continuously attacked and menaced by mankind. Jack, Ralph, and Simon, decide to explore the unknown island. Suddenly through some unknown force, or perhaps purely out of selfish reasons, they push a rock as large as a small motor car over, to go crashing and smashing a deep hole in the forest canopy. "Wacco!," "Like a bomb!(30)." Here Golding seems to be illuding to war where heroes drop bombs into unknown lands, regardless of the destruction they may cause, then become excited when their target is hit. What makes them enjoy this act and the boys celebrate it's destruction by their triumph? Later in the bush, the boys civilized minds and actions return. A fire is lit on the mountaintop to signal rescue attempts. Unfortunately the fire goes out of control and destroys, "a quarter of a mile square of forest was savage with smoke and flame(49)." The boys once again lose all their balance of an orderly world, "at the sight of the flames...the boys broke into shrill, excited cheering(48)." Here again destruction of man, is evident upon an unspoiled land.
Golding again reminds us through the actions of the boys that destruction and evil are very much part of man's world. Even though the boys have only been on the island for a short time, real evil has already started. Throughout the novel Golding continuously reminds us of how society can easily break down and man's primitive instincts arise. He does this through the characters in Lord of The Flies.
Each character is depicted to play different types of people in society; there are those who are the leaders, the thinkers, the workers, those who choose to play, the followers and the trouble makers. Ralph, Simon, and Piggy were the characters with a goal in mind, to be rescued. These characters were the practical, the civilized, the rational in society. They quickly take on the task of building shelters for the group. Ralph assumes the leadership role. He is often referred to as, "the fair boy(7)." For he constantly uses his reasoning power, he stands behind his principles and civilized thoughts to keep the group in harmony.
Piggy, as his name clearly describes, is a boy who is ridiculed by all the group. "He's not fatty,' cried Ralph, 'His real name's Piggy!(23)." Golding focuses on the cruelty which is often set in society. Even on a tropical island with only boys as characters, the presence of violence, jealousy, and cruelty, and prejudice are ever present. Piggy was obviously an outcast in society and on the island, directly due to his appearance; fat with glasses, asthmatic, and not very agile. Piggy however, is the intellectual, the reasonable, the reminder of the civilized world that they had all left behind.
Simon was a thinker like Piggy, and because he was different and shy, he was often ridiculed by the other boys who thought him to be weak. He enjoyed the beauty around him, and to go off on his own, away from the evils that were arising. Simon was a philosopher who represented the good and beauty and sees the truth. He has a brave soul and is not afraid to be alone. "Simon turned away and went where the just perceptible path led him(61)." Golding gave Simon, Jesus-like qualities. Like Jesus, Simon also went up into the mountain to be alone. Through his seizures he saw the truth. He saw the true nature of the Beast. Simon makes the statement, "Maybe it's us!(97). Simon is killed in the story, for as the rest of the boys lose all sense of logic and reason. Simon who still represents the civilized world, is removed through death by what is no longer in existence on the island.
Jack represented the dictators in our society at all costs. He is the evil that lurks in all societies. Jack takes the role of the hunter in the novel. Here he shows a very heroic nature in going out to search for food, for the boys. After Jack's first kill there is evidence that he still has some conscience and a small part of him is still civilized. "I cut the pig's throat,' said Jack proudly, and yet twitched as he said it.(75)" After several kills Jack no longer, "twitched," he had lost all remorse, all feeling of guilt after killing. He becomes less and less human and eventually loses his own identity. He is the only boy who at the beginning of the novel is stated with his whole name, first and last. By the end of the novel he is simply known as, "Chief." "Tomorrow, went on the Chief, we shall hunt again(176)." Like most dictators who want and acquire power, Jack also gained power through terrorizing the others, using force, torturing, and arousing fear. "He's going to beat Wilfred.'...He got angry and made us tie Wilfred up!(176)." He arouses fear in his followers. "-�-� and then the beast might try to come in(177)." He like all dictators in history preyed on the weak, and ignorant. Jack portrays his tyranny by wanting to conquer their world (island). Soon Jack has most boys following his lead and also becoming bloodthirsty and cruel.
Roger was Jack's right hand man. His true nature is revealed when he delights in spearing the dying sow in the rear end, "Right up her ass!(15)" He is a sadistic individual who uses his position at Jack's side to unleash his immoral evil ways. He derives pleasure in tipping over the rock onto Piggy. "...with a sense of delirious abandonment(200)." He was also the one to sharpen a stick at both ends to kill Ralph. In Golding's view, Roger becomes the inhuman, the true follower of evil, and death. With each killing Roger becomes stronger and has lost all sense of the peaceful society in which he was born.
Sam and Eric are the followers in their society. They change their loyalties to anyone who will protect, or threaten them. Through fear, loyalties are often swayed. They were loyal servants of Ralph, until Jack tortured them. Their loyalties quickly changed and fear made them faithfully serve Jack. They will do anything that Jack tells them to do for they haven't the courage or stamina to escape or revolt. The twins portray the masses in society, the weak, the mindless fickle followers, who need guidance to survive.
Golding's book, The Lord of The Flies, is a story about man and society, and the evil that lurks in us all. Throughout his life Golding lived through two World Wars, and the horrors that came with their destruction. These had a great influence in his perception of human nature. He uses Lord of The Flies, to express his view's that humans, although heroic can be sick. His characters, like war heroes start with good intentions and goals, bug often lose sight of all that is decent and just.
By studying the history of the world, and the devastation caused by dictatorship's and wars, Golding presented a very good analogy of human nature, and the, "beast," within.