William Gerald Golding was fantastic, spiritual, pessimistic and a great writer. In most of his novels, he conflicted the nature of a civilized man and the darkness of the nature in his own style. William Golding was born in 19 september, 1911 at Cornwall in England. His father was Alec Golding, a great socialist. His mother was Mildred, who worked for the vote of women in that country. Golding was Intelligent, Competetive. He was also interested in music. He learned the Latin language and with the help of his father, he wrote many stories in Latin. In the age of twenty, he wished to be a writer and entered into English Literature. For his writings, Alec too helped him. They were rejected by the readers even though those were published by Mcmillan Company. At that time, Golding thought that his life was over. With the help of his friend Adam, he joined as teacher. By teaching different subjects, he taught music and exhibited many dramas. In 1950, he wrote the poem, 'The Sea' and in 1952, the novel 'Strangers from within' was refused by the publishers. But, Charles Monteith, the editor of the company Faber and Faber, made some changes and published as "Lord of the Flies" in 1954. This brought a great success to Golding. From that time, he never turned back in English Literature. He published 'The Inheritors'(1955), 'Pincher Martin'(1956), 'Free Fall'(1959), 'Darkness Visible' (1979) and many other novels which brought a name and fame to Golding. The year 1983 was marked as unforgottable year in his life. Because, he was honoured with a Doctorate by Oxford University and Sorbonne and at the same time, he received Nobel Proze for his unique services in English Literature. He died in June 19, 1993. In June, 1995, his last novel 'The double Tongue' was published. William Golding believed that the ultimate purpose of literature is to foster change, "It is the poetry of fact, the stuff of human courage and defiance, and has changed tha face of history".Recalling Sir Winston Churchill's words, Golding said that, "Words express what a huge segment of the world thinks and in that sense literture has to be used for nation to speak to nation."
Lord of the Flies - Central Idea:
It gained a lot of success written by William Golding. It is a story of fantasy relating to fear and imaginative feelings containing some reality. An aircraft, having some school boys was crashed in an island at Pacific ocean. As the pilot was dead, all the boys were became alone. What they were doing there? How could they bear the situations? How they were staying there? Finally, what happened? The answers to all the above questions in the author's own style was this novel - Lord of the Flies. He explained the feelings and thoughts of completely immatured, not yet developed children and their behaviour. It was an attempt to trace out the mistakes in the people and society around us. We can find the symbolism in this novel. It was divided into twelve chapters with various characters and behaviour was an important thing. The main theme of this novel was "The study of Human Society". He chosen the children for this story to mention that the good feelings, freedom, peace should come from the childhood. Through, "Lord of the Flies", he provided an opportunity to understand that the effect of time and difficult situations may lead a man in what direction.
Story - Analysis:
In the novel, "Lord of the Flies", an atomic war was only the base to start the story. But the motif of our author was to tell the behaviour of the small children who deserted in an island at Pacific ocean. The main characters in this novel were Ralph, Jack, Piggy, Simon, Roger, Sam, Eric and Littluns. The story veered round these boys. They all wanted to be live in a disciplined manner. As there were no adults to care them, they elected Ralph as their leader. Ralph suggested them some rules. Firstly, whenever they heard the voice of the conch shell, they had to meet at one place. Here, Golding showed us the shell indicates the official power of socialism, democratic, discipline which indicated his symbolism.
Ralph gave a plan to make a fire on the top of the mountain. So that, the passengers who travelled on that way may find and helped them. But, the plan of Ralph was always failed due to the lack of discipline and proper planning in their attempts. On the other side, Jack always showed his interest in hunting the pigs, was hated by Ralph. Ralph thought was different. There were so many fruits in that forest to eat. So, he wanted to make huts for shelter. Helpless and careless of Jack to Ralph made them enemies. But, this is also a Right. In this Democratic society, everyone can lead thier own life. They may do, they may speak whatever they wish and whatever they like, was supported by Golding.
All the children were under the age of 12, so that their minds were not properly developed and they couldn't understand anything. They were not in the position to understand anything. In the event of making a fire on the mountain, they saw a surprised and a variety picture made him fear and they all, except Simon, felt that it was a Beast. As simon was intellectual and understand the truth that evil is nowhere, evil is within humans. This was the real truth what Simon understood so he didn't involve in that. Sam and Eric created an another story that they saw the beast and they were followed by it. But, Simon didn't believe that. Piggy was also an intellectual boy but due to his weak eye-sight, he couldn't do anything. Atlast they found that they saw a man who fell down from the parachute and they felt that it was a beast.
In other aspect, Jack didn't care all these and he involved in his work, that too he asked all the others to act against Ralph. So that they divided into two groups - Hunters and Non-hunters. Once Simon went alone, the head of the beast was appeared to him and ordered Simon that he shouldn't go alone, go back and join with other friends. That head was called by William Golding as "Lord of the Flies". This is known by us as a well-known devil. ' You know me. I am the part of you, I never go without you. You go and stay with all otherwise I will kill all of them', this was an order by that head and Simon got much fear for that. Here, we come to know by the words of Golding that the bad evil and devilish thoughts are born with us and they stay within us and sometimes they may come out.
Then Simon wanted to tell this point what he found there to all his friends and wanted to make them free. So, he went to Jack's group but as they didn't find Simon, they killed him, having a feel that it was a beast. After sometime they found that they killed Simon but it was the position to do nothing. Golding described Simon as a Christ because he too wanted to do good for others and lost his life. As Littluns are too small, couldn't do anything. Then Jack too wanted to come out of that desert and wanted to make a fire on the mountain. But he hadn't any instrument to make light. So that he stolen the glasses of Piggy and made him so much trouble. Ralph arranged a meeting and called Jack as a thief. Jack got angry and with the help of his friend Roger, he killed Piggy. Through this, Golding discussed that the cheap politics are not to be in adults, according to the situations, Children's minds too spoiled with that politics.
Ralph became alone. So, Jack wanted to kill Ralph with the help of his friends. Ralph escaped from them and reached the sea shore there, was waiting for the help of the passengers travelled by that way. This scene was made by Golding in a horrible way. At that time, a naval officer was passing by and he observed Ralph, asked Ralph about his excitement. Ralph told him everything and the naval-officer took that boy with him was the end of this story.
But, the real significance lies in the realisation that any form of civilized behaviour and organisation is only possible when lines of command are laid down and discipline is maintained. In other words, man's freedom has to be curbed and if it is not, he goes back to the state of the savage in the jungle.
According to Walter Allen, "The first thing to be said of Golding's novel is that they are self-contained wholes beneath whose surface action and realism are to be found much wider and in a sense, cosmic meanings. Fully to succeed, a fantasy must approach very close to reality". "Lord of the Flies" does. Peter Green expressed his views as, "The central theme of Golding is not the relationship of man but the relationship of man, the individual, to the universe and through the universe, to God".
The symbolism of his novels is, in essence, theological. It is clear that there is a close thematic connection between "Lord of the Flies" and his another novel "The Inheritors". Golding has simply set up a different working model to illustrate the eternal human verities from a new angle. Again it is humanity, and humanity alone, that generates evil. Just as Ralph in 'Lord of the Flies', Lok in the novel 'The Inheritors' too suffered for his loss of innocence.
However, the significant thing which made Golding very famous is the appearance of Reality in his Writings.
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