‘Lord of the Flies’ by William Golding

1. ‘Lord of the Flies’ by William Golding Characterisation Theme

2. Overview - Characterisation • 1.Characterisation as a technique. • 2.The link between characterisation and theme. • 3.The four central characters and their development (chapter one / later key incidents). • 4.The four central characters as representative types.

3. 1. Characterisation as a technique • Golding’s skill in creating characters we can respond to as complex individuals AND as representative types. • Methods of characterisation: Description of actions and thoughts. Description of physical appearance. How characters react to each other/ Portrayal of relationships. Word choice. Use of differing points of view. Speech and dialogue

4. All successful critical essay answers need to demonstrate understanding of the ‘main concern’ of the text – its theme. All successful critical essay answers will explore how characterisation is used to communicate Golding’s theme , that we all harbour within us a potential for cruel, violent, evil or animalistic behaviour which will emerge in certain circumstances if we allow it . 2. Characterisation and Theme

5. 2. Characterisation and theme contd. • Golding’s four central characters are created and developed in order to communicate his theme. In brief: Jack embodies evil and allows his potential for cruelty to be exercised as he responds to island life by allowing his behaviour to degenerate. He dominates those around him by violent means. Ralph attempts to oppose this evil using democracy and bring order to the chaos of island life. Piggy tries to counteract Jack’s savagery with his intellectual and reasoned approach but becomes the victim of evil. Simon offers a spiritual or religious opposition to savagery and understands the source of evil on the island : not the Beast but the boys themselves. However he is rejected and like Piggy becomes a victim of evil.

6. 3. The four central characters and their development . • The discussion of the development of a character or characters could form part or all of a critical essay answer. • It is hard to imagine how any critical essay on ‘Lord of the Flies’ could avoid dealing with characterisation. Chapter One The attributes Golding gives his characters in Ch1 are crucial for their later development and the development of plot and theme.

7. Piggy in Chapter 1–‘the fat boy’ • Social inferiority • Lack of physical strength • Unattractiveness • Reliance on others • Intellect and sensible approach • Caring nature • Association with pigs Later in the novel... • Piggy is rejected and ridiculed by the other boys even in chapter one – the beginning of the bullying which becomes physical, then fully disabling and culminates in his death.

8. Ralph in chapter 1 – ‘the fair boy’ • Physically attractive and fit. • Delighted at the freedom and beauty of the island. • Positive and determined. • A leader. • Has some imperfections so appears human. • Perceptive – response to Jack/Piggy. Later in the novel... • Ralph has the bravery and determination to stand up to Jack and try to preserve civilised behaviour. He shows responsibility as leader though does involve himself in violence. Also he has the physical capability to defend Piggy and escape the tribe when he is hunted down at the end of the novel.Finally understands the nature of evil through his encounter with the Lord of the Flies and the deaths of Simon and Piggy.

9. Jack in chapter 1-’the boy who controlled them’ • domineering • fierce • a bully • arrogant • violent Later in the novel… • Jack develops an obsession with hunting and a remorseless bloodlust. Satisfies his need for dominance by becoming the painted Chief of Castle Rock, violently eliminating any opponent.

10. Simon in chapter 1 -’a skinny vivid little boy’ • Vulnerable • physically weak • thoughtful and sensitive Later in the novel... • Simon withdraws from the group to explore the island alone. As early as chapter 5 he tries to suggest the beast is ‘only us’. Simon understands the nature of evil having witnessed the killing of the sow and by discovering the airman’s body. Murdered by the boys when mistaken for the beast.

11. 4. Characters as representative types or symbols. • Ralph - democracy, the ‘everyman’. • Piggy - the intellectual. • Jack- dictatorship/primitivism. • Simon - the spiritual or religious nature of man.

12. Top 4 Quotations Piggy:‘Which is better- to have rules and agree or to hunt and kill?’ (Ch10) Ralph : ‘…Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart and the fall through the air of the true wise friend called Piggy.’(Ch 12) Jack: His mask is ‘a thing on its own, behind which Jack hid,liberated from shame and self-consciousness.’(Ch 4) Simon : ‘However Simon thought of the beast, there rose before his inward sight the picture of a human at once heroic and sick.’(Ch 6 )

13. Conclusions. • Golding’s four central characters are created and developed in order to communicate his theme. Our emotional reaction - the horror that young boys can behave in such a way - as we respond to these characters as human beings leads us to an awareness of the inherent evil of mankind. • Our understanding of the boys as representative types or symbolic characters widens the scope of the novel : this novel has a universal theme and continuing relevance today.