[Book] Lord of the Flies by William Golding - #13 in Fiction 📚
Lord of the Flies by William Golding - Book Review
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Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Lord of the Flies is one of those timeless stories that has become ingrained in pop culture. It’s been spoofed, parodied, and referenced so many times that most people have a basic understanding of the plot—shipwrecked children descending into savagery—even if they don’t know all the details. Personally, I remember watching the 1990 film adaptation in high school, which reimagines the kids as Americans, but is otherwise a fairly faithful (if mediocre) rendition of the book. Showing Lord of the Flies to teenagers, though, is a bit like introducing them to the concept of the apocalypse; they’re aware it’s coming, but they don’t fully get the depth of it. I don’t recall much from that viewing, but I’m pretty sure the class reaction was a mix of boredom and confusion, much like the Aryan Brotherhood watching Jesse’s confession tape in Breaking Bad.
Even though I knew the major plot points and the ending, Lord of the Flies is still a gripping and intense read. William Golding, a Nobel laureate (which I didn’t realize before reading), brings such vividness to his writing, particularly when describing the island. His portrayal of the setting is almost poetic—a sun-drenched patch of land smothered in thick jungle, shadows cast by creeping vines, butterflies flitting around in the air. It’s a serene yet eerie place, one that feels like it’s holding its breath, waiting for something terrible to happen. The gradual shift in the children’s dynamic—from an elected leader to a ruthless dictator—builds an incredible sense of dread and inevitability. The tension reaches its peak in the adrenaline-charged final chapter, where the protagonist desperately runs for his life.
I’d always thought Lord of the Flies was set during World War II, but I was surprised to learn it actually takes place during a nuclear war, as hinted at through a few telling lines of dialogue. This subtle revelation explains why the children aren’t rescued for so long and underscores the brutal violence that mirrors the adult world’s conflict, particularly in the novel’s chilling final sentence.
There’s a lot of symbolism and thematic exploration in Lord of the Flies—about morality, authority, and human nature—that at times, it feels almost as though Golding was writing with an English class syllabus in mind. I half-expected to see the dreaded essay questions that some editions of classic novels throw in at the back. But honestly, it’s hard to fault him for that when the book is so brilliantly crafted. Lord of the Flies is dark, thought-provoking, and absolutely essential reading—it's a novel that resonates deeply and stays with you long after you've finished.
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