Saw the movie on this a long time ago; thought it was about time I read the book.
The general theme of the novel is a question of human nature and what is innate and what is learned. At least that’s what it looks like so far to me. Just started this the other day and I’m over a quarter way through it. Golding’s language is quick paced and spot on in setting up the story. The opening paragraph introduces the environment and two of the main characters with a precision and yet without an excess of words but those words do paint the images well.
What we initially see are two boys who appear to meet for the first time in an outdoor setting. We quickly learn that they were passengers along with many other English boys on a plane that was supposed to bring them to safety, out of a war-torn England. What we find is that the plane has crashed and the pilot is missing or dead. The two boys, both about twelve, are very different in appearance and character. Ralph, blonde and athletic, quickly establishes himself as superior to “Piggy,” who is overweight, bespectacled, and while of higher intelligence, has already resumed his role in life as the brunt of teasing. He is a follower, only because he doesn’t believe he really could be a leader. It is of note that even in this odd situation, where they do not know if there are more survivors, where Ralph has no idea was the other boy’s background has been, Piggy offers himself up in his accustomed role as he tells Ralph that he was called “Piggy,” which he hates. Ralph, stepping into his own role as a boy used to having his own way, promptly calls him exactly that.
The boys explore the island on which they’ve landed, and it is Piggy who discovers a conch shell and is clever enough to think that they can use it as a horn to call for any other survivors. But Piggy, remaining in his subordinate role, explains to Ralph how to use it and it eventually becomes a symbol of power. One that he has willingly handed over to Ralph.
Other boys do indeed answer the call. As soon as Ralph has a bigger choice of friends to select from, he chooses two others, Jack and Simon, to go with him to the top of the mountain to get a view of their surroundings.
Golding has brought us into a new beginning of the world for these boys. He has thrown a mix of ages and personalities and the adventurous spirit of adolescent boys with the necessity for survival. Survival will depend on a balance of work, experience, ingenuity, and, probably most important, organization.
It is inevitable that an hierarchy will establish itself and each main character’s personality will automatically place him somewhere in that structure.
The Lost Children: A Charity Anthology