Lord of the Flies

"The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. . ."—Jeremiah 17:9

"There is evil in everything that happens under the sun. The same destiny overtakes all. The hearts of men, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts. . ."—Ecclesiastes 9:3

An airplane carrying a group of British boys fleeing a devastating war is shot down and crashes, stranding the boys on a tropical island. With the pilot dead and only themselves to rule the island, the boys try to establish order.

Under the leadership of Ralph and the advice of a boy called Piggy, the boys set up rules for survival and rescue. Above all else, a signal fire must be maintained. This responsibility is accepted by Jack and his followers, who are also the hunters. But something stalks the island, sowing fear and discord. The fire is allowed to die and a rescue ship misses them. Day-by-day the boys change. Conflicts arise. Mistakes happen. And as time passes, the children become filthy, careless, and cruel.

In time, the children who were formerly disciplined by the structure of British society become savage animals, hunting not only pigs, but each other. Golding's novel, Lord of the Flies, is a literary masterpiece examining the fallen condition of the human heart and the loss of innocence.

Note: Due to the graphic nature of this novel, we DO NOT recommend it for young readers, and we only recommend it to older students as a study in human character (not as a great tale).