BookRags.com Literature Guides Literature Guides Criticism/Essays Criticism/Essays Biographies Biographies My Bibliography Periodic Table U.S. Presidents Shakespeare Sonnet Shake-Up
Research Anything:        
History | Encyclopedias | Films | News | Create a Bibliography | More... Login | Register | Help
Not What You Meant?  There are 5 definitions for Lord of the Flies.  Also try: Pig.

Search "Golding, William 1911–: Critical Essay by David Spitz"

Criticism Navigation
 


Golding, William 1911–: Critical Essay by David Spitz

Print-Friendly  Order the PDF version  Order the RTF version
William Golding
About 4 pages (1,157 words)
Lord of the Flies Summary

Bookmark and Share

Simon, it is clear, is the Christ-figure, the voice of revelation [in Lord of the Flies]…. He alone does not fear the false god, the messenger from heaven, the slain airman—a metaphor for history—who is dead but won't lie down…. Simon sees him and understands; he knows that "the beast was harmless and horrible; and the news must reach the others as soon as possible." Like Moses, then, he comes down from the mountain bearing the truth—which in Simon's case is that the beast is Man himself, the boys' (and man's) own natures. But when he comes out of the darkness, bringing the truth, he is not heard—for what ordinary man can live with so terrible an understanding? Like Jesus, he is killed. (pp. 24-5)

Thus men, Christian men, even … those who had once worn priest-like robes, reject the authority and the truth of revelation. They dance and chant and kill; they revel in their passionate joys; they exercise power; but they do not heed the voice of God.

This is a free excerpt of 169 words. There are 1,157 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) in the full critical essay.

Read the rest of this Criticism with our Golding, William 1911–: Critical Essay by David Spitz Access Pass.

Copyrights
Golding, William 1911–: Critical Essay by David Spitz from Literature Criticism Series. ©2005-2006 Thomson Gale, a part of the Thomson Corporation. All rights reserved.

Join BookRagslearn moreJoin BookRags


About BookRags | Customer Service | Report an Error | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy