Lord of the Flies

by William Golding

This is a tale of how a group of boy react when they are stranded on an uncharted island. To add to the mix, no adults are on this island with them. On the surface, this novel seems like a tale of order falling to savagery, but it is really an allegory of our world.

These boys seem innocent enough when we first meet them, but they turn into wild animals capable of murdering their fellow school boys. Once the story is looked at from a symbolic level, the author's message becomes clear. His message is that culture created by man will ultimately fail.

This novel has become a notable in its own right because of the endless parallels between it and real life. The symbolism is so deep, I do not think we will ever find an end to it. Even though we may never find an end to the symbols, the novel should never be forgotten because of its chilling truths about human nature.

Verdict: Read