Page 155 - ENGLISH 9
P. 155
A Specimen of Book Review on ‘Lord of the Flies’
Title of the Book: Lord of the Flies
Author: William Golding
Publisher: Penguin Book
Characters: Jack, Piggy, Ralph, Eric, Rojer,
Simon, Sam , etc.
Genre: Fiction
Year of Publication: 1954 AD
Curriculum Development Centre
William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies” is still popular among teenagers. Its
popularity is heightened because it is a blend of mystery and adventure.
Furthermore, it carries the message to be civilized by remaining under law
and order despite the absence of seniors for peaceful living.
The story opens with a plane crash leaving a group of reckless schoolboys
in a deserted island. In the beginning, it seems as if the young boys’
dreams have come true. They wouldn’t want a whole island to play on
all day without any nagging from the adults. Soon they start governing
themselves by electing a leader in spite of the absence of any adults. The
plot develops with the struggle of the leader and protagonist, Ralph and
Jack, the antagonist. Soon hunger of power creates conflicts and that leads
to anarchy. Gradually, their decisions and actions turn from worse to
barbaric and bloody. This leads to the tragic end of the children’s world.
Ralph’s innocence is the most appealing. Later his maturity and realization
is another fascinating part of the plot. It gives the lesson that life is not at
all about how many friends you have and how popular you are, nor is
it just having fun. The more one reads, the more one discovers the deep
meaning of these questions- Are people naturally prone to evil? Which is
better-to have rules and agree, or to hunt or kill? Indeed inner meaning is
dark, tragic and pessimistic but it makes the reader wonder how thin the
line between good and evil really is. Yet, it deals with a fundamental issue
of humanity. What a transformation from innocence to experience it is!
Almost every reader would recommend this book to teenagers who want
to try something different or who like adventure and mystery.
150 English class 9
