Lord Of The Flies Essay

Maneet Sandhu
Mrs. Mitroussis
ENG 2D
April 24, 2015

Lord of the Flies Essay

Identity defines a person and their nature. William Golding displayed this nature in the novel, “The Lord of the Flies”. The boys go through many problematic situations, which lead them to behave in a manner that has been never witnessed before. The boys change. The new environment alters the way they act and think. These factors change their identity and who they really are. As identity slips, fate alters one’s mind and future. Civilization is no longer with one’s peace of mind, as one losses his or hers identity, as demonstrated in “The Lord of the Flies”. As the novel progresses, identity is being questioned. Identity is lost as the boys stay on the island is extended. As the novel came to an end, the importance of losing an identity is showed, and how losing this identity affected the boys.

Identity defines a person and shows their true inner self. True identity shows one’s pride, beliefs and mortality and portrays who a person really is. Identity consists of more than a name or physical appearance. It describes a person without words being said. In this novel, identity plays a large role and can be seen through Piggy. ““I don’t care what they call me,” he said confidently, “so long they don’t call me what they used to call me at school.”” (page 11). This quote stated by Piggy displays how much he cares for his self respect and his identity. Piggy doesn’t want to be called what he was known as once before. Piggy wanted to leave his old identity behind. He had felt as if he could become a new person with a different approach. Identity is shown in one by their pride, beliefs and mortality. Identity is shown in a person by revealing their true-self and how they perceive themselves and how they perceive others.

The loss of identity can make one completely lose themselves. They forget where they belong and what they truly believe in. Others began to take power of them and take over their minds and actions. When one loses control over their own mind, they began to take follow of others. This was demonstrated very well in “The Lord of the Flies”. The boys began to lose their true self and become someone completely different. “Jack planned his new face. He made one check and one eye-socket white, then he rubbed red over the other half of his face and slashed a black bar of charcoal across from right ear to left jaw-” (page 63). The face paint serves as a mask. The mask from now on will change how Jack acts and perceives himself. Golding writes, “The mask was a thing on its own, behind which Jack hid, liberated from shame and self-consciousness.” (page 64) This lack of shame and conscience will allow Jack to act more savage-like and inhumane, while hiding his true identity behind the painted face. Identity is often hidden behind the masks which lay upon ones physical appearance. In order to see past the mask, one must break through it.

The importance of identity is shown in each individual. Everyone posses their own personal identity. This identity is unique to each person and specific characteristics can allow others to interpret one’s behaviour. One’s identity

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