Format: Paperback
Language: English
Publisher: FABER
ISBN: 9780571200535
Pages: 178
Price: INR 193
The ‘Lord of the Flies‘ by William Golding is a horrific tale of a bunch of stranded boys trying to govern themselves on a paradise island, with disastrous results. Considered a classic, it deals heavily with conflicting human impulses that can ruin civilisations.
A number of English boys are the survivors of a plane crash. They’re left stranded on an uninhabited island. In an attempt to be civilised, as they are English after all, they elect a leader and try to keep divide themselves into groups, with delegated duties. But then, the hidden desires that manifest themselves only at night come about in broad daylight and threaten the boys’ idealic existence. And along with this, there is something dark and sinister lurking around in the island, haunting their dreams and threatening their sanity.
This is an excellent book that deals with the themes of human emotions, desires and conflicting interests. The book is an allegory for men. Human nature is corrupt and when the thought of power and greed are brought in to the picture, there is no difference between civilised and savages. Culture fails repeatedly and no matter how hard we can repress it, nothing will ever stop the drive to become savages. It is a story that definitely makes you think about society, the integrity of people and reveals the evil and cruel component of humanity.
But if you think even further, the whole thought can also be ludicrous. Can a bunch of civilised boys really fall prey to such primal desires? Can society really break down in the case of non-existence of norms and rule? How far can power really clog the mind and make you forget about humanity? Lots of ifs and buts, but the books sets the wheels in motion and leaves you pondering for a great deal after.
The book is powerful and haunting. It will leave you with goose bumps in the end, when the true meaning of it becomes clear. It will leave you wondering whether we are really no better than the beasts of our dreams.
Overall Rating: 9/10
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