“With reference to the ways Golding presents the boys, show how far you agree that rescue is the boys’ main concern”
This is an essay for GCSE English Literature, which received an A. I also received an A* overall. Happy studying!
“With reference to the ways Golding presents the boys, show how far you agree that rescue
is the boys’ main concern”
Rescue is a key theme in “Lord of the Flies”, and a driving force for Ralph’s actions.
However, rescue is also one of the main causes of conflict. As the novel progresses, the
boys worry less about rescue and more about fulfilling theur primal desires. By the novel’s
conclusion, rescue is no longer a concern for anybody but Ralph.
Under Ralph’s leadership, rescue is the top priority. Ralph’s only hope of returning
home is the fire. As the boat passes, we see Ralph’s dedication to keeping the fire alive as
he does “desperate violence to his body” trying to relight the fire. The emotive language has
a significant effect on the reader, causing them to empathise with Ralph. Therefore Golding
shows the audience the lengths to which Ralph will go to ensure rescue. This establishes
Ralph’s commitment to rescue.
However, not all the boys share these concerns. As Ralph rushes to the fire, Jack
prioritises hunting. He finds joy in “lashings of blood”. The noun “lashings” is associated with
food and its use highlights Jack’s enjoyment in killing, revealing his bloodthirsty personality.
The Theory of Evolution is a hypothesis explaining how man has grown from more primitive
creatures. In the novel, Jack devolves to a primitive state. Jack has adapted to become
strong to survive, like a wild animal, demonstrating to the reader that Jack has dismissed the
idea of rescue. He focuses on hunting and violence instead.
Ralph accepts responsilbility and authority. He tries to convince the boys to focus on
logic. This is seen where Ralph says “this meeting must not be fun, but business”. The noun
“business” shows to the reader how Ralph attempts to convince the boys to quit immaturity,
as business belongs in the adult world. By devoting himself to the growth of others, Ralph
hopes that the boys will learn to prioritise rescue. This shows how Ralph is primarily
concerned with being rescued.
Ultimately, though, the boys stray from the idea of salvation. Golding makes Jack’s
irresponsilbility clear to the reader as he is animalistic, describes as “dog-like…a furtive
thing”. The comparisonshows the reader how Jack is driven by primal desire rather than
logic. Rescue can’t grant him the euphoria of violence, and so is insignificant to him.
The other boys follow Jack’s lead, discarding rescue (even if they reluctantly do so).
This is seen in Sam and Eric. The twins secretly agree with Ralph’s views on rescue, but
were compelled to join the tribe by Jack’s authority. This is similar to Milgram’s Experiment,
which proved that 93% of people were capable of violence that they disagreed with. Whilst
rescue may have once been a priority, the twins are examples of how Jack’s wild nature
corrupted the other boys, turning them away from the logic of rescue until it was no longer a
concern at all.
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