Lord of the Flies by WilliamGolding
“I should have thought that [you] would have been able to put up a better show than that.” I feel like those kids on that island, and we’ll hear this when we’re rescued. Do we have to burn the place down first? #TimelessReads #StillRelevant
Did you read this in high school? Do you remember it? A group of schoolboys is marooned on a tropical island. Ralph is elected chief. Piggy is the deep thinker. Jack leads the choir. They plan to build shelters, keep a signal fire going, organize meals, and keep a roster. Quickly, this organization collapses, and the boys fall into savagery and internecine violence. A classic about the fragility of civilization and the savagery within us all.
The two important objects in the book are the conch and Piggy’s eyeglasses (specs). The conch is blown to call assemblies, and the person holding the conch is allowed to speak uninterrupted. Piggy’s specs are used to start a fire (necessary to signal for rescue and to cook meat, feral pigs). These rules of polite society deteriorate as the story progresses. NOTE: Piggy is nearsighted, and there is NO way his glasses can be used to start a fire. #PlotHole
While the theme of deterioration into savagery might seem relevant to 2026, something else also seems relevant. Many of the unfortunate decisions in Lord of the Flies are predicated on illusory dangers and imagined monsters. The book moves from one crisis to another, all of which are later shown to be blown out of proportion.
One sad postscript… At the end, there is no justice for the murdered children or the other abuses.
Check out https://amazon.com/shop/influencer-20171115075 for Omega Cat Press books and book recommendations.
