Alisha Majumder
18 June 2021
man's primitive nature
Can all of humanity inherently share a single trait? Many arguments have been placed
through time and history about whether humans are innately good or bad. When stripped of
necessities and left to provide for themselves, humans are inherently and distinctly conceited. Lord of
the Flies displays beyond a doubt how inherently dark humans are when the rug of“civilization” is
pulled from under their feet. In this novel, inherent evil is displayed through a variety of characters’
actions, words, and internal monologue.
Humanity's inherent evil is presented throughout the novel through each of the characters'
actions. One of the littluns named Henry is displayed playing along the beach shore with insects. "He
poked… and tried to control the motions of the scavengers...He became absorbed beyond mere
happiness as he felt himself exercising control over living things.”(127) Henry's sheer happiness
suggests that he purely enjoys acting savagely towards the vulnerable. Though he is a child, his
behaviour displays humans’ innate desire to exercise control and exert dominance. Furthermore, Jack
and Ralph both exhibit inherent evil through their actions. Though Ralph is presented as more
civilized than Jack in the novel, his innate instincts eventually overwhelm him in a fight with Jack.
“Jack made a rush and stabbed at Ralph's chest with his spear... They were chest to chest, breathing
fiercely, pushing and glaring.” Their animalistic behaviour during their fight displays how Jack has
turned on one of the only boys he respected, portraying how his innate impulses overcame them and
they both regressed to primitive savage behaviour. The boys' swift descent into savagery displays
how inherent evil is. Roger additionally displays savagery when walking by littluns on the beach.
Roger picks up a stone and throws it at Henry, he throws to miss however, he doesn't dare to throw
right near Henry: "he dare not throw. Here, invisible yet strong, was the taboo of the old life."(62)
