Banned Books: Lord of the Flies

Throughout my life, I've never been part of the popular clique. I know what you're thinking. Wow, Sennett, I'd have never guessed that! Yeah, thanks for the compliment. Seriously, though, in high school, I didn't even try to wriggle my way into that mystical sphere. I pay for it dearly sometimes, but I suppose I couldn't be a member even if I tried, so it's okay. However, my whole life I have watched them, and if you have, too, you will have seen the same things. Humans have a tendency to follow the dominant. Born leaders. This forms the pattern of the educational system: you've got your dominant but morally deficient leaders, your blind followers, and your outcasts. Even if the outcasts are smarter or more compassionate and ethically guided, the odds of them forming a majority to stand up to the masses are not in their favor.

Then there are the weak. Like me. We try not to hate the masses too much, though that is our first instinct. What use would it be, if we have to live with them in our lives all the time? We watch them and fear them. We realize we will never be in charge and settle for a place in the background.

Justification: Not granted

Anthem: Bang Bang by Green Day (October 7th, my fellow Idiots)

Rating: ***1/2

Risk: X


Review: I think this is such an interesting novel, especially when you're still in school. I'm a natural social observer, so I just love watching and judging and analyzing social structures. I didn't enjoy the story very much as a work of fiction, but much the more as a satirical comparison between government and a group of teenaged boys. We were going to read this in English class two years ago but read Private Peaceful instead. I wish we'd done this one since it would have helped me understand all of the metaphors better.

I also think this story is more relevant than ever, even though I would probably disagree with William Golding on the issue. The idea of an unseen beast driving everyone into cruelty immediately made me think 'War on ISIS'. We refuse refugees the care they need in fear of terrorism and radical Islam, thus neglecting basic human rights out of ignorance and fright.

Something I disliked about the book was the racism. Golding doesn't hide his beliefs that the 'civilized British' change into 'cruel painted savages'. I don't think it ruins the whole book in this case, but if it were written now, I would be furious.

The following will contain spoilers for Lord of the Flies

Offensive language

Piggy says the n-word, which is an Unforgivable Curse in the US. The racist slang is unnecessary and awful. There's no justifying it. Because the use of the term is so connected with the racism in the gist of the book, I'll come back to it in the next segment.

Racism/discrimination

Lord of the Flies is racist, there's no doubt about that. William Golding displays a belief in white supremacy and great disrespect for tribes in for example Africa and South America. Then why do I forgive him? I don't condone the things he's implied and said and fully understand why some people would like this book banned because of them.

Just like with Huckleberry Finn, we're going to look at the time period in which the book was written. William Golding wrote Lord of the Flies in the 1950s, a time in which racism hadn't been opposed that much. To put it in perspective, Nigeria, Malaysia, and Ghana were all still part of the United Kingdom at the time of publishing. Imperialism and colonization had only just provoked raised eyebrows and a sense of shame. There was still little understanding and respect for 'uncivilized' communities and culture. It in no way justifies Golding's decisions, but it does explain them.

On the challenge: Banning a book is always wrong, and schools nowadays can explain to students how the views in Golding's time affected the choices he made writing the book.

Violence

That's kind of the point of the book, though. There literally wouldn't be a plot if all the violence were cut out. The violent behavior of such a young group of people is meant to provoke a reaction of shock and disbelief at the loss of morality on this island. The violence is obviously disapproved of, and I see no way in which it could tempt teens or children into committing murder.