Human nature. Some people think that it is the inclination to be peaceful and caring, and others think just the opposite. For example, in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, children are depicted as innocent, tranquil people. But in Lord of the Flies by William Golding, children exhibit what society tries to cover up in human nature - the more gruesome qualities of humans. The three defects in human nature that Golding identifies as being responsible for mankind"'"s problems are the desire for power and control, bloodlust, and the hunger for freedom from the constraints of civilization.

When Lord of the Flies starts, the boys on the island are fairly civil to each other and react well to authority. They immediately choose a leader and set up a type of government. Although many are happy that there are no parents on the island to tell...