Context of the lord of the flies.

The Lord of the Flies is set in the time of world war two. We know this because children are being evacuated in a war situation by means of a plane.  In World War One, people were not evacuated as much and certainly not in planes. in this story, some children have been evacuated to a safer place. They are traveling via Gibraltar and Addis Ababa (Ethiopia). On the way they are hit by an enemy plane. [quote] "we was attacked!". The plane is most likely an Italian plane as Ethiopia was under attack from the Italians in World War Two. The "tube"has been dropped, creating a "scar", and the plane has flown off in flames along with the only grownups. [quote] "He looked up and down the scar. "and this what the tube done". The children have fallen down onto a tropical island that turns out be not all that it seems. the island was [quote] "roughly boat shaped.....on either side rocks,cliffs, tree-tops and a steep slope: forward there, the length of the boat, a tamer descent, tree clad with hints of pink: and then the jungly flat of the island, dense green, but drawn at the end to a pink tail. There, where the island petered out into the water, was another island; a rock almost detached, standing like a fort, facing them across the green with one bold pink bastion". And so, a group of boys are trapped on a tropical island and have to survive on their own.

Conversation about Piggy

Sam: Hey Shaun. Do you find the lord of the flies by Sir William Golding an interesting book?

 

Shaun: yeah.... its okay. The symbols and deep meanings in it are quite interesting. I especially like the hidden meanings that occur in between the lines. Who is your favourite character? 

 

Sam: Definitely Piggy.  And from reading the Lord of the Flies , I have the opinion that Piggy is the key character in the novel. He is the voice of reason, who without, the boys would have never survived. He possesses an intelligence that resembles one of a grown-up. The others do not have this intelligence. It seems to me that Piggy is the grown-up on the island; he resembles much of the figure of a parent.  Do you agree with that Shaun? (My statements on Piggy's character that is)

 

 

 

Shaun: Yes I do, as Piggy mentions in chapter four, page eighty-eight [quote] "You and your blood, Jack Merridew! You and your hunting! We might have gone home-"

 

In this example, Piggy rages at Jack much like a parent would rage at their child. He uses Jacks last name thus showing his role as a parent. This supports your statement that Piggy is like the grown-up or parental figure amongst the boys. He rages like a parent. Also, in this quote we can see that Piggy was wanting to go home. Jack has other ideas. This becomes apparent through out the book.

 

Sam: Any other quotes?

 

Shaun: Hmmmmm, well I have these two here:

1. "Then with the martyred expression of a parent who has to keep up with the senseless ebullience of the children........."- page 50- this quote directly says that Piggy is like a parent and also uses sophisticated language to fit with Piggy's character.

2. "Let him have the conch! Shouted Piggy. Let him have it!"-page 46-  this quote shows that Piggy truly is the voice of reason on this island.

 

Sam: Yes those quotes back up my points quite nicely. I have this other quote as well: “Like a crowd of kids, said Piggy in disgust.” This quote shows us that Piggy is distinguishing himself from the others as a more mature person than the others.

 

Shaun: Yes, I see what you mean