Theme: Evil

Origin of Evil

Golding suggests that evil is an inherent part of human nature, seen in all the boys rather than just one antagonist.
Regardless of background or upbringing, all the boys, including Ralph and Piggy, succumb to savage behaviour when stripped of civilisation’s restraints.
The character of Simon seems to recognise the “beast” within all of them.
The term “beastie” evolves throughout the novel, its meaning turning from an external creature to an internal force emphasising the shift from perceived to inherent evil.

The Beast the boys fear is an embodiment of their own evil manifesting. Initially thought to be a real creature, it eventually becomes an abstract concept representing their inner darkness.
The ritual of the hunt is a significant manifestation of the boys’ progressive savagery and loss of civilisation.
The murder of Simon represents the summit of the boys’ fall into savagery and signifies the victory of evil.
On the microcosm of the island, Golding portrays how evil and brutality can quickly rise amidst fear and chaos, when societal rules and structures are absent.

As the boys’ savagery deepens, the conch, a symbol of civilisation and order, loses its power, mirroring how society’s rules are powerless against intrinsic evil when not respected.
Piggy’s glasses, symbolic of intellectual endeavour and reason, are stolen and then broken, showing the decline of intellectual and civilised ways against growing evil.
Piggy’s and Simon’s deaths are outcomes of the free reign of evil on the island, representing the defeat of intellect and morality in the boys’ society.
Ralph’s struggle to uphold civilised behaviour, despite his breakdown, illustrates Golding’s message that one must continually battle against their inherent evil.
The arrival of the naval officer represents an intervention of order but it’s ironic that he comes from a war, suggesting that evil is not just confined to the boys or the island but exists everywhere in the world, even within civilised society.