Lord of the flies question?

Question

'Lord of the Flies' by William Golding, what makes the book still relevant for contemporary readers, even though it was written over 50 years ago?

Answer 1

It discusses how culture created by man fails.

Exactly the same relevance as 'Rasselas', 'Sense & Sensibility' and a host of others on the same theme.

Broadly, there are two approaches to the problem of human nature. This is a huge subject, so I must be perhaps too summary, but here goes:

One option is the optimistic, Romantic view: unspoiled, uncorrupted humanity is idealistic and perfect; society can only limit potential and maim the personality. Freedom to follow one's impulses and activity are the supreme goods. Long live the child and the noble savage.

The other view is the stoic's view: there is in life more to be endured than to be enjoyed. We must put up with the world as it is. A child is not a perfect, innocent being; it is a selfish little animal, urgently needing to be socialised. Order and discipline are more important than self-expression, as without them, what comfort or pleasure is secure? Long live the rule of law and self-restraint.

In this context, the enduring value of 'Lord of the Flies' is apparent. Golding, very positively, takes a decided and perhaps extreme position: when external discipline is withdrawn, human nature (and especially childish nature) rapidly reverts to barbarism.

Order is significantly restored at the end of the novel with the arrival of an officer from a disciplined service.

One may agree or disagree with Golding, but the work remains a powerful statement of the stoic position.

Answer 2

Animalistic instincts, human behaviour, etc. It's not about when a book was written, but what the themes are, and what goes on. I could write a novel in 2008 that has no relation to contemporary readers, or you can look at plays by Shakespeare (i.e. Hamlet) that can still be relevent to modern readers. "Lord of the Flies" takes a look at the animal nature of humans. Want it to relate? Look at things that have occured in Iraq during the current war. Talk about the beast within.

Answer 3

lord of the flies is trying to give over a message: that evil is unleashed when the boundaries of good and evil are broken. society, with all its limitations, tries to conform everyone (in the good way), and tries to suppress evil.  but in isolation, the kids on the island have no rules at all, no parental supervision, etc, and so innate evil is unleashed. all forms of cruelty results, with one boy even getting killed.

Answer 4

it explores aspects of human nature. ie that we are violent at our core

Answer 5

lol sounds like ure asking for homework ... read it couple years ago for school...

Answer 6

it relates to life

do you know anything about SYMBOLS at all..

i just got done reading that BORING but NICE book

Answer 7

universal and timeless themes, issues and techniques

identify issues. eg. lack of rules/laws in society lead to anarchy

(3 is a good number)

write about how these issues are still relevant thus book keeps it textual integrity

1 issue per paragraph:

introd

context

topic sentence

issue1

topic sentence

issue 2

topic sentence

issue 3

conclusion

Answer 8

dgg

Answer 9

I studied this at GCSE, from what I undestand Lord of the Flies is a microcosm (a smaller system representative to a large system, in this case its a small world) in lord of the flies its about what happens when a group of civilised men are put in complete isolation. This is relevant to todays civilisation as well, what would happen if today if a group of people are put into complete isolation.

Its the ideas in lord of the flies, you see the development of a cult, different leaderships and which style of leadership works when. In times of fear people turn to dictator-like characters and in peace people are more likely to turn to a democracy, its bascially looking at our world in mini. Hope this helps!