Introduction to Lord of the Flies

Study Notes

Published in 1954, "Lord of the Flies" is an allegorical and adventure novel by William Golding.
Part of the post-war fiction literary period, reflecting themes of human nature and societal breakdown.
Set on a deserted tropical island amid a nuclear world war, symbolizing the conflict and chaos of the time.

Golding transitioned from science to literature while studying at Oxford University.
His experiences as a soldier during World War II, including participation in the D-Day landing, significantly shaped his worldview.
"Lord of the Flies" was his debut novel, achieving commercial success in both the UK and the US, although Golding never matched this level of fame again.
Golding won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1983 and published several other notable works, including "The Scorpion God" and "Fire Down Below."

The backdrop of World War II profoundly influenced the themes of violence and savagery in the novel.
Golding's perspectives on humanity were altered by the atrocities of the war, contrasting the earlier belief that World War I was the "War to End All Wars."
The narrative can be interpreted as a commentary on potential future conflicts, represented metaphorically through the boys' experiences on the island.

The story unfolds as a group of English schoolboys are stranded on an uninhabited jungle island following a plane crash in wartime.
Ralph and Piggy discover a conch shell and summon the other boys to an assembly.
Ralph is elected leader, while Jack, who expresses contempt for Piggy, becomes leader of the hunters.
The power dynamic and the struggle for control set the stage for the conflict that ensues among the boys.

The title "Lord of the Flies" translates to "Beelzebub," a reference to a demonic figure from the New Testament, representing the darker aspects of humanity.
Golding drew inspiration from "Coral Island," a novel where boys build a utopian society after being shipwrecked, contrasting sharply with the dystopian themes in "Lord of the Flies."