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Top 50 Quotes You Need for Your Essay from Lord of the Flies

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Lord of the Flies Quotes About Savagery Innocence Lord of the Flies Quotes About Conflict and Humanity’s Inherent Evil Identity

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Lord of the Flies Quotes About Savagery

Fire representing savagery

#1: “Within the irregular arc of coral the lagoon was still as a mountain lake—blue of all shades and shadowy green and purple.” Chapter 1 Techniques: Simile, recurring motif, circular imagery, biblical allusion
#2: “The creature was a party of boys, marching approximately in step in two parallel lines and dressed in strangely eccentric clothing.”  Chapter 1 Characters: Stranded boys  Techniques: Foreshadowing, alliteration, ominous imagery 
#3: “This last piece of shop brought sniggers from the choir, who perched like black birds on the criss-cross trunks and examined Ralph with interest.” Chapter 1 Characters: The choir, Ralph Techniques: Simile, ominous imagery, foreshadowing
#4: “Roger gathered a handful of stones and began to throw them. Yet there was a space round Henry, perhaps six yards in diameter, into which he dare not throw. Here, invisible yet strong, was the taboo of the old life. Round the squatting child was the protection of parents and school and policemen and the law.” Chapter 4 Characters: Roger, Henry  Techniques: Polysyndeton, foreshadows Rogers killings later in the text
#5: “Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Spill her blood.” Chapter 4 Characters: Hunters Techniques: Repetition, parataxis, incantatory tone Analysis: The quote, “Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Spill her blood,” is a chant that the boys repeat while they are hunting. The phrase represents the boys’ descent into savagery and the loss of their civilised values. The repetition of the phrase creates a ritualistic, almost religious quality to the boys’ actions, as they become more and more removed from the norms of society. The phrase also has symbolic meaning. The pig represents innocence and goodness, and the boys’ act of killing it represents their rejection of these values. The phrase also foreshadows the violence and bloodshed that will occur later in the novel, as the boys’ primal instincts take over. Overall, the quote represents the loss of civilisation and the rise of barbarism in the novel. It is a powerful example of how language can be used to convey the themes of a story and the inner workings of its characters.
#6: “Ralph took the conch from where it lay on the polished seat and held it to his lips; but then he hesitated and did not blow. He held the shell up instead and showed it to them and they understood.” Chapter 6 Characters: Ralph Techniques: Conch motif, deliberate vagueness
#7: “This head is for the beast. It’s a gift.” Chapter 8 Characters: Jake  Techniques: Symbolism, juxtaposition  Analysis: The quote, “This head is for the beast. It’s a gift,” is spoken by one of the boys, Jack, after his group kills a pig. Jack cuts off the pig’s head and offers it to the “beast” as a gift to appease it. The phrase represents the boys’ descent into savagery and their willingness to sacrifice the innocent in order to protect themselves from a perceived threat. The phrase also has symbolic meaning. The pig’s head represents the boys’ descent into barbarism and the loss of their humanity. It symbolises the evil and darkness that is within all of them, and the willingness to give into it. Overall, the quote represents the boys’ loss of morality and their belief in a false idea, the “beast,” which is a symbol of their own inner demons. It is a powerful example of how language can be used to convey the themes of a story and the inner workings of its characters.
#8: “A circling movement developed and a chant. While Roger mimed the terror of the pig, the littluns ran and jumped on the outside of the circle.” Chapter 9 Characters: Hunters Techniques: Circular imagery, recurring motif, symbolism 
#9: “The mouth of the new circle crunched and screamed”  Chapter 9 Characters: Hunters Techniques: Personification , circular imagery, recurring motif
#10: “Piggy and Ralph, under the threat of the sky, found themselves eager to take a place in this demented but partly secure society. They were glad to touch the brown backs of the fence that hemmed in the terror and made it governable.” Chapter 9 Characters: Ralph, Piggy, the Hunters  Techniques: Pathetic fallacy , climax, personification
#11: “But they’ll be painted! You know how it is.” The others nodded. They understood only too well the liberation into savagery that the concealing paint brought.  Chapter 11 Characters: Eric (speaker), Ralph, Piggy, Sam Technique: Emphatic language, dialogue
#12: “The rock struck Piggy a glancing blow from chin to knee; the conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist … Piggy fell forty feet and landed on his back across the square red rock in the sea. His head opened and stuff came out and turned red. Piggy’s arms and legs twitched a bit, like a pig’s after it has been killed.” Chapter 11 Characters: Piggy  Techniques: Simile, symbolism, anticlimax
#13: “Then the sea breathed out again in a long slow sigh, the water boiled white and pink over the rock; and when it went, sucking back again, the body of Piggy was gone.” Chapter 11 Characters: Piggy  Techniques: Personification, natural imagery, sibilance Analysis: The quote describes the death of one of the main characters, Piggy. In this scene, a group of boys push a large rock off a cliff, which lands on Piggy, killing him. The quote describes the aftermath of this event, as the sea reacts to the violence that has taken place. The phrase “the sea breathed out again in a long slow sigh” creates a sense of calm and reflection after the chaos that has just occurred. The “white and pink” water boiling over the rock represents the blood of Piggy, and the image of the water “sucking back again” symbolises the sudden and brutal loss of life. Overall, the quote is a powerful description of the aftermath of violence and the effect it has on the natural world. It is a reminder of the tragic consequences that can occur when humans give into their darkest impulses and turn on each other.

Jack Quotes from Lord of the Flies about Savagery

#14: “I agree with Ralph. We’ve got to have rules and obey them. After all, we’re not savages. We’re English, and the English are best at everything. So we’ve got to do the right things.” Chapter 2 Characters: Jack (speaker)  Techniques: Foreshadowing, irony, first person plural, short syntax
#15: “The chief was sitting there, naked to the waist, his face blocked out in white and red. The tribe lay in a semicircle before him.”  Chapter 10 Characters: Jack  Techniques: Circular imagery, recurring motif
#6: “Bollocks to the rules! We’re strong—we hunt! If there’s a beast, we’ll hunt it down! We’ll close in and beat and beat and beat—!” Chapter 5 Characters: Jack (speaker) Techniques: Repetition, emphatic language, call to action

Simon Quotes from Lord of the Flies about Savagery

#17: “Maybe there is a beast… Maybe it’s only us.” Chapter 5 Characters: Simon (speaker), assembly of boys Techniques: Repetition, dialogue, reflective and speculative tone, paradox Analysis: The quote is spoken by one of the boys, Simon, who is the most insightful and spiritually-minded of the group. Simon is suggesting that the “beast” they fear may not be an external creature, but rather the darkness and savagery within themselves. The quote is a key moment in the book, as it marks a turning point in the boys’ beliefs. Until this point, the boys have been united in their fear of the “beast.” Simon’s insight forces them to confront the possibility that their greatest enemy is not some external force, but rather the evil that lies within themselves. The phrase “Maybe there is a beast… Maybe it’s only us” is a powerful commentary on human nature and the potential for evil that exists within all of us. It suggests that the true enemy is not something external, but rather our own darker impulses and tendencies. It is a reminder that we must always be vigilant against our own worst instincts, in order to maintain a civilised and just society.
#18: “He opened his eyes quickly and there was the head grinning amusedly in the strange daylight, ignoring the flies, the spilled guts, even ignoring the indignity of being spiked on a stick.” Chapter 8 Character: Simon  Techniques: Personification, repetition, symbolism
#19: “You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you? Close, close, close! I’m the reason why it’s no go? Why things are what they are?” Chapter 8 Characters: Lord of the Flies, Simon Techniques: Rhetorical questions, epizeuxis, exclamatory remark, intentional vagueness
#20: “Then, amid the roar of bees in the afternoon sunlight, Simon found for [the littluns] the fruit they could not reach, pulled off the choicest from up in the foliage, passed them back down to the endless, outstretched hands.” Chapter 3 Characters: Simon, littluns Techniques: Hyperbolic language, natural imagery, character foil

Ralph Quotes from Lord of the Flies about Savagery

#21: “He swung to the right, running desperately fast, with the heat beating on his left side and the fire racing forward like a tide.” Chapter 12 Characters: Ralph  Techniques: Simile, recurring fire motif, juxtaposition
#22: “Ralph launched himself like a cat; stabbed, snarling, with the spear, and the savage doubled up.” Chapter 12 Characters: Ralph  Techniques: Simile, sibilance, feline imagery 
#23: “The world, that understandable and lawful world, was slipping away.” Chapter 5 Characters: Ralph Techniques: Repetition, reflective tone
#24: “We’re all drifting and things are going rotten. At home there was always a grownup. Please, sir; please, miss; and then you got an answer. How I wish!” Chapter 5 Characters: Ralph Techniques: Repetition, exclamatory remark

Innocence with marbles

#25: “Then, with the martyred expression of a parent who has to keep up with the senseless ebullience of the children, he picked up the conch, turned toward the forest, and began to pick his way over the tumbled scar.” Chapter 2 Characters: Piggy  Techniques: Metaphor, motif of the conch, symbolism of the island’s scar 
#26: “Apart from food and sleep, they found time for play, aimless and trivial, in the white sand by the bright water. They cried for their mothers much less often than might have been expected; they were very brown, and filthily dirty.” Chapter 4 Characters: The littluns  Techniques: Diction, third-person omniscient narrator, juxtaposing adjective use
#27: “A spring had been tapped, far beyond the reach of authority or even physical intimidation. The crying went on, breath after breath, and seemed to sustain him upright as if he were nailed to it.” Chapter 5 Characters: Percival Techniques: Metaphor, biblical allusion, repetition
#28: “Even the sounds of nightmare from the other shelters no longer reached him, for he was back to where came from, feeding the ponies with sugar over the garden wall.” Chapter 6 Characters: Ralph  Techniques: Domesticated imagery of a pony, juxtaposition, dreamscape
#29: “A semicircle of little boys, their bodies streaked with colored clay, sharp sticks in their hands, were standing on the beach making no noise at all.” Chapter 12 Characters: The hunters, Ralph  Techniques: Circular imagery, sibilance
#30: “A little boy who wore the remains of an extraordinary black cap on his red hair and who carried the remains of a pair of spectacles at his waist, started forward, then changed his mind and stood still.” Chapter 12 Characters: Jack Techniques: Intentional omittance of name, motif of the spectacles
#31: “And in the middle of them, with filthy body, matted hair, and unwiped nose, Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart, and the fall through the air of the true, wise friend called Piggy.”  Chapter 12 Characters: Ralph Techniques: Listing, evocative adjectives, juxtaposition

Lord of the Flies Quotes About Conflict and Humanity’s Inherent Evil

Dark trees representing evil - Lord of the Flies quotes

#32: “The ground beneath them was a bank covered with sparse grass, torn everywhere by the upheavals of fallen trees, scattered with decaying coconuts and palm saplings. Behind this was the darkness of the forest proper and the open space of the scar.” Chapter 1 Characters: Ralph, Piggy  Techniques: Sibilance, descriptive imagery, contrast between images of decay (coconuts) and growth (saplings)
#33: “This time Ralph expressed the intensity of his emotion by pretending to knock Simon down; and soon they were a happy, heaving pile in the under-dusk.” Chapter 1 Characters: Ralph, Simon, Jack Techniques: Alliteration, foreshadowing of Simon’s death, juxtaposition
#34: “Here was a coral island. Protected from the sun, ignoring Piggy’s ill-omened talk, he dreamed pleasantly.” Chapter 1 Characters: Ralph, Piggy Techniques: Biblical allusion Analysis: The phrase “Here was a coral island” refers to the fact that the island is made of coral, which is a type of rock-like material that forms over long periods of time in warm, shallow waters. This detail is important because it sets the scene for the idyllic, almost dreamlike quality of the island. The phrase “Protected from the sun” suggests that the island is a haven from the harsh realities of the outside world. The boys have been through a traumatic experience, having been stranded on the island with no adult supervision. The island provides a sense of safety and comfort, at least for the moment. The phrase “Ignoring Piggy’s ill-omened talk” suggests that the character Piggy is seen as a pessimistic voice among the group. He is constantly warning the other boys about the dangers of their situation, but Ralph chooses to ignore him and enjoy the moment. The phrase “he dreamed pleasantly” suggests that Ralph is in a state of blissful reverie, lost in the beauty of the island and the moment. This is a significant contrast to the violence and chaos that will come to dominate the boys’ experience on the island. Overall, the quote sets up a contrast between the idyllic beauty of the island and the darker realities that the boys will have to face. It also highlights the different perspectives among the boys and the varying levels of optimism and pessimism among them.
#35: “The pile was so rotten, and now so tinder-dry, that whole limbs yielded passionately to the yellow flames that poured upwards and shook a great beard of flame twenty feet in the air” Chapter 2 Techniques: Personification of the fire, foreshadowing
#36: “He began to dance and his laughter became a bloodthirsty snarling.”  Chapter 4 Characters: Jack  Techniques: Contrast, canine imagery
#37: “His mind was crowded with memories; memories of the knowledge that had come to them when they closed in on the struggling pig, knowledge that they had outwitted a living thing, imposed their will upon it, taken away its life like a long satisfying drink.” Chapter 4 Characters: Jack Techniques: Simile, third-person omniscient narrator, anadiplosis
#38: “I know there isn’t no beast—not with claws and all that, I mean—but I know there isn’t no fear, either…Unless we get frightened of people.”  Chapter 5 Characters: Piggy Techniques: Foreshadowing ensuing savagery, incorrect grammar, Piggy as a symbol for pragmatism 
#39: “Simon found he was looking into a vast mouth. There was blackness within, a blackness that spread.” Chapter 8 Characters: Simon  Techniques: Repetition, symbolism, personification 
#40: “Which is better–to have laws and agree, or to hunt and kill?” Chapter 11 Characters: Piggy (speaker), Hunters  Techniques:  Question, repetition, diction, contrast
#41: “Her bows [were] hauled up and held by two ratings. In the stern-sheets another rating held a sub-machine gun.”  Chapter 12 Characters: Naval officers Techniques: Female pronoun, military jargon, recurring motif of violence 

Identity Quotes from Lord of the Flies

Open vintage ancient book. Pattern background for design. The book on a round oak wooden table and green wall background.

#42: “I could swim when I was five. Daddy taught me. He’s a commander in the Navy. When he gets leave he’ll come and rescue us. What’s your father?”  Chapter 1 Characters: Ralph (speaker), Piggy  Techniques: Question, boasting tone, short syntactical form 
#43: “The smaller boys were known by the generic title of “littluns.” Chapter 3 Techniques: Metonymy
#44: “The mask was a thing on it’s own, behind which Jack hid, liberated from shame and self-consciousness.” Chapter 4 Characters: Jack  Technique: Symbolism of the mask, sibilance, juxtaposition of hiding and being liberated
#45: “Jack planned his new face. He made one cheek 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.” Chapter 4 Characters: Jack  Techniques: Symbolism, diction choice (volatility of word slashed)
#46: “Percival Wemys Madison, The Vicarage, Harcourt St. Anthony, Hants, telephone, telephone, tele-“ Chapter 5 Characters: Percival  Techniques: Listing, repetition, incantatory tone, disrupted syntax
#47: “I’m chief,” said Ralph, “because you chose me. And we were going to keep the fire going. Now you run after food—” Chapter 9 Characters: Ralph (speaker), Jack Techniques: Assertive language, dialogue, disrupted sentence, symbolism 
#48: “Someone was throwing stones: Roger was dropping them, his one hand still on the lever. Below him, Ralph was a shock of hair and Piggy a bag of fat.” Chapter 11 Characters: Roger, Ralph, Piggy Techniques: Metaphor, religious imagery, hyperbole

Piggy Quotes from Lord of the Flies about Identity

#49: “What are we? Humans? Or animals? Or savages? What’s grownups going to think?” Chapter 5 Characters: Piggy  Techniques: Hypothetical questions, anaphora, incorrect grammar 
#50: “You could see now that he might make a boxer, as far as width and heaviness of shoulders went, but there was a mildness about his mouth and eyes that proclaimed no devil.” Chapter 1 Characters: Piggy Techniques: Metaphor, biblical allusion, third-person omniscient narrator
#51 (bonus!): “They used to call me Piggy!” Chapter 1 Characters: Piggy (speaker), Ralph  Techniques: Emphatic language, dialogue, use of insults

On the hunt for quotes from other texts?

Check out our list of quotes for the following texts:

  • The Merchant of Venice
  • Frankenstein
  • Pride and Prejudice
  • Blade Runner
  • To Kill a Mockingbird
  • Never Let Me Go
  • Things Fall Apart
  • One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
  • Jasper Jones
  • The Tempest

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Lord of the Flies Quotes

Famous quotes from lord of the flies.

“We’ve got to have rules and obey them. After all, we’re not savages. We’re English, and the English are best at everything.”
“There aren’t any grownups. We shall have to look after ourselves.”
“We’ve got to have rules and obey them. After all, we’re not savages. “
“They looked at each other, baffled, in love and hate.”
“The smaller boys were known by the generic title of “littluns.”
“Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Spill her blood.”
“The thing is – fear can’t hurt you any more than a dream .”
“What are we? Humans? Or animals? Or savages? What’s grownups going to think?”
“Which is better—to have rules and agree, or to hunt and kill?”
“ And in the middle of them, with filthy body, matted hair, and unwiped nose, Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart, and the fall through the air of the true, wise friend called Piggy.”

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'Lord of the Flies' Quotes Explained

lord of the flies essay quotes

  • B.A., English, Rutgers University

Lord of the Flies , William Golding's classic novel about English schoolboys marooned on a deserted island, is a powerful examination of human nature. The following Lord of the Flies quotes illustrate the novel's central issues and themes.

Quotes About Order and Civilization

“We've got to have rules and obey them. After all, we're not savages. We're English, and the English are best at everything. So we've got to do the right things.” (Chapter 2)

This quote, spoken by Jack, serves two purposes in the novel. First, it demonstrates the boys' initial dedication to "hav[ing] rules and obey[ing] them." They have grown up in English society, and they assume that their new society will be modeled after it. They elect their leader democratically, establish a protocol for speaking and being heard, and assign jobs. They express a desire to "do the right things."

Later in the novel, the boys descend into chaos. They become the so-called "savages" that Jack mentions, and Jack is instrumental in this transformation, which brings us to the second purpose of the quote: irony. The more we learn about Jack's increasing sadism, the more absurd this early quote seems. Perhaps Jack never believed in "rules" in the first place and simply said whatever he needed to say to gain authority on the island. Or, perhaps his belief in order was so superficial that it disappeared after only a short time, making way for his true violent nature to emerge.

“Roger gathered a handful of stones and began to throw them. Yet there was a space round Henry, perhaps six yards in diameter, into which he dare not throw. Here, invisible yet strong, was the taboo of the old life. Round the squatting child was the protection of parents and school and policemen and the law.” (Chapter 4)

In this quote, we see how the rules of society influence the boys at the start of their time on the island. Indeed, their initial period of cooperation and organization is fueled by the memory of the "old life," where authority figures implemented punishment in response to misbehavior.

Yet, this quote also foreshadows the violence that later erupts on the island. Roger refrains from throwing rocks at Henry not because of his own morals or conscience, but because of the memory of society's rules: "the protection of parents and school and policemen and the law." This statement underscores Golding’s view of human nature as fundamentally "uncivilized," restrained only by external authorities and societal restrictions.

Quotes About Evil

“Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill!” (Chapter 8)

In this quote, Simon realizes that the the Beast the boys fear is, in fact, the boys themselves. They are their own monsters. In this scene, Simon is hallucinating, so he believes that this statement is made by the Lord of the Flies. However, it is actually Simon himself who has this revelation.

Simon represents spirituality in the novel. (In fact, Golding's first draft made Simon an explicitly Christ-like figure.) He is the only character who seems to have a clear sense of right and wrong. He acts according to his conscience, rather than behaving out of fear of consequences or a desire to protect the rules. It makes sense that Simon, as the novel's moral figure, is the boy who realizes the evil on the island was the boys' own making.

“I'm frightened. Of us.” (Chapter 10)

Simon's revelation is proved tragically correct when he is killed at the hands of the other boys, who hear his frenzy and attack, thinking that he is the Beast. Even Ralph and Piggy, the two most stalwart supporters of order and civilization, are swept up in the panic and take part in Simon’s murder. This quote, spoken by Ralph, highlights just how far the boys have descended into chaos. Ralph is a firm believer in the power of rules to maintain order, but in this statement, he seems uncertain of whether rules can save the boys from themselves.

Quotes About Reality

"[Jack] looked in astonishment, no longer at himself but at an awesome stranger. He spilt the water and leapt to his feet, laughing excitedly. ... He began to dance and his laughter became a bloodthirsty snarling. He capered toward Bill, and the mask was a thing on its own, behind which Jack hid, liberated from shame and self-consciousness." (Chapter 4)

This quote marks the beginning of Jack's ascent to power on the island. In this scene, Jack is looking at his own reflection after painting his face with clay and charcoal. This physical transformation gives Jack a sense of freedom from "shame and self-consciousness," and his boyish laughter quickly becomes "bloodthirsty snarling." This shift parallels Jack's equally bloodthirsty behavior; he becomes increasingly sadistic and brutal as he gains power over the other boys.

A few lines later, Jack gives a command to some of the boys, who quickly obey because "the Mask compelled them." The Mask is an illusion of Jack's own creation, but on the island the Mask becomes "a thing on its own" that conveys authority to Jack.

“The tears began to flow and sobs shook him. He gave himself up to them now for the first time on the island; great, shuddering spasms of grief that seemed to wrench his whole body. His voice rose under the black smoke before the burning wreckage of the island; and infected by that emotion, the other little boys began to shake and sob too. And in the middle of them, with filthy body, matted hair, and unwiped nose, Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man's heart, and the fall through the air of the true, wise friend called Piggy.” (Chapter 12)

Just prior to this scene, the boys have set the fire ablaze and are on the verge of murdering Ralph. However, before they can do so, a ship appears, and a naval captain arrives on the island. The boys immediately burst into tears.

Instantly the trappings of Jack’s fierce hunting tribe are gone, any effort to harm Ralph ends, and the boys are children again. Their violent conflicts end abruptly, like a game of pretend. The island's societal structure felt powerfully real, and it even led to several deaths. Nevertheless, that society evaporates instantly as another more powerful social order (the adult world, the military, British society) takes its place, suggesting that perhaps all societal organization is equally as tenuous.

  • Memorable Quotes From 'Lord of the Flies'
  • 'Lord of the Flies' Overview
  • 'Lord of the Flies' Themes, Symbols, and Literary Devices
  • 'Lord of the Flies' Summary
  • Lord of the Flies Book Profile
  • 'Lord of the Flies' Characters: Descriptions and Significance
  • Lord of the Flies: A Critical History
  • 'Lord of the Flies' Questions for Study and Discussion
  • Why Is 'Lord of the Flies' Challenged and Banned?
  • 'Lord of the Flies' Vocabulary
  • 10 Classic Novels for Teens
  • 9 Must-Read Books If You Like 'Lord of the Flies'
  • Biography of William Golding, British Novelist
  • 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer' Summary and Takeaways
  • 'Frankenstein' Quotes Explained
  • 'The Tempest' Quotes Explained

Lord of the Flies: Key Quotations ( AQA GCSE English Literature )

Revision note.

Nick

Key Quotations

Remember the assessment objectives explicitly state that you should be able to “use textual references, including quotations”. This means summarising, paraphrasing, referencing single words and the referencing of plot events are all as valid as quotations in demonstrating that you understand Lord of the Flies. It is important that you remember that you can evidence your knowledge of the text in these two equally valid ways: both through references to it and direct quotations from it. 

Overall, you should aim to secure a strong knowledge of the text, rather than rehearsed quotations, as this will enable you to respond to any question you may be set. It is the quality of your knowledge of Golding’s novel which will enable you to select references effectively.

If you are going to revise quotations, the best way is to group them by character, or theme. Below you will find definitions and analysis of the best quotations, arranged by the following themes:

Civilisation versus savagery

Good versus evil, power and leadership.

Perhaps the central concern of Lord of the Flies is a question: is it more natural for human beings to work together and create a community (civilisation), or do people naturally tend towards their individualistic impulses (savagery)? 

lord-of-the-flies-quotation-panel-1

 “And another thing. We can't have everybody talking at once. We'll have to have 'Hands up' like at school" - Ralph, Chapter 2

Meaning and context

  • This quotation comes as Ralph attempts to settle the group of boys down in one of their first meetings
  • At this point in the novel, the boys are presented as unruly and excitable, full of nervous energy
  • Ralph and Piggy attempt to establish order in the group by convening meetings and instituting rules (such as “hands up”)
  • In Lord of the Flies, meetings and rules symbolise society: 
  • Meetings and rules also represent an attempt to create a community with shared values:

Paired quotations:

lord-of-the-flies-quotation-panel-2-

 “Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Spill her blood." - The hunters, Chapter 4

"At once the crowd surged after it, poured down the rock, leapt on to the beast, screamed, struck, bit, tore." - Narrator, Chapter 9

  • The first quotation is a refrain that Jack’s choir chant after their first successful hunt
  • The second refers to the actions of the entire group of boys during the murder of Simon
  • These two quotations show the boys’ descent into savagery
  • As soon as Jack’s hunters make their first kill, they become more primal , and begin ritual dances, ceremonies and chants:
  • This can be seen as “uncivilised”, akin to savagery
  • This chant is monosyllabic , suggesting that the boys’ own language is less civilised
  • It is also visceral (“throat”, “blood”) and violent, again suggesting savagery
  • As the novel progresses, the actions of the boys towards each other becomes more violent and savage:
  • Before Simon’s murder, a boy called Robert is almost killed when a ritual dance becomes violent
  • Here, during Simon’s murder, the boys descend on him – no longer a boy but a “beast” – in an animalistic manner:
  • They use “teeth” and “claws” and “bit, tore” at Simon

lord-of-the-flies-quotation-panel-3

“The mask was a thing on its own, behind which Jack hid, liberated from shame and self-consciousness." - Narrator, Chapter 4

  • This quotation describes Jack when he is on his own in the jungle, using soil as face paint to create a kind of mask
  • It suggests that once he is hidden by the face paint, he feels free from the normal rules of civilised society
  • At this point in the novel, the boys (even Jack’s emerging tribe) still feel constrained by society’s rules regarding behaviour:
  • Golding suggests that these social norms  give us a healthy dose of “shame” and “self-consciousness”
  • He is suggesting that without these social norms   guarding our impulses, we can easily become savages
  • This quotation marks a turning-point for Jack, because it signifies that he is turning his back on the rules and conventions of civilised society:
  • From now on, he feels free to act however he pleases

lord-of-the-flies-quotation-panel-4

“The rock struck Piggy a glancing blow from chin to knee; the conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist." - Narrator, Chapter 11

  • This quotation describes both the killing of Piggy and the destruction of the conch shell when Ralph and Piggy look to reason with Jack on Castle Rock
  • He is the island’s intellectual and always urges Ralph to think logically when making decisions
  • His death, therefore, represents the death of a chance at reconciliation or negotiation between the two camps of boys
  • This links to Charles Darwin’s ideas of survival of the fittest
  • With it now destroyed, no other voice but Jack’s has authority
  • This represents a victory of autocracy over democracy (which has “ceased to exist”)
  • Piggy’s death represents the death of rational thinking, of reason:
  • Piggy’s death also represents the ultimate victory of the strong over the weak:
  • The destruction of the conch represents the death of free speech and democracy on the island:

Examiners love when students link ideas and themes in the exam question across different parts of the novel. A fantastic way to do this is to include quotations from two separate chapters in Lord of the Flies that show a connection, contrast or character development. 

We have included some of these “paired quotations” on this page, and are great when memorised together.

In many ways, Lord of the Flies is a morality tale exploring the two sides of human nature. Golding is exploring whether evil is inherent in human beings, or whether it is learnt. Ultimately, his view is a pessimistic one: he seems to suggest that all human beings have a natural capacity for evil. 

lord-of-the-flies-quotation-panel-5

 “The creature was a party of boys" - Narrator, Chapter 1

"What I mean is ...maybe it's only us" - Simon, Chapter 5

  • The first quotation is the first description of Jack’s choir – later the hunters – as seen by Ralph and Piggy
  • The second quotation is stated by Simon when the boys are discussing the possibility that a beast exists on the island
  • Throughout the novel, Golding suggests that any evil that exists on the island comes not from any external monster, but from the boys themselves
  • Indeed, from the very first description of the characters in Lord of the Flies who represent human evil (Jack and his choir) we see them compared to a “creature”:
  • This metaphor foreshadows  the evil that the boys will commit against each other later in the novel
  • It also alerts readers to the fact that there is no external monster at all
  • Golding uses the character of Simon at express his own opinions:
  • Simon says that the creature is “only us”, suggesting that the boys are creating the monster in their own heads
  • However, it could also suggest that all evil on the island is perpetrated by “only” the boys themselves, and that the boys are a danger to each other
  • This is reflective of Golding’s larger argument that human beings have a natural capacity for evil

lord-of-the-flies-quotation-panel-6

“Roger stooped, picked up a stone, aimed, and threw it at Henry - threw it to miss" - Narrator, Chapter 4

  • This quotation describes an episode when Roger spies on a couple of littluns on the beach, and then begins to throw stones at one of them
  • Golding suggests that all humans have a capacity for evil, and no character encapsulates this more than Roger
  • Here, Golding describes Roger’s desire to commit acts of violence
  • However, he is still conditioned by society’s rules and social norms  not to hurt the littlun Henry, but instead to throw to “miss”
  • However, this episode foreshadows a later change to Roger’s inhibitions :
  • Later, Roger has no hesitation in committing acts of violence against the boys when he acts as Jack’s torturer-in-chief on Castle Rock
  • Golding’s deliberate reference to a “stone” he re foreshadows the rock that Roger launches from Castle Rock that kills Piggy
  • Golding is suggesting, therefore, that it is only society’s unwritten rules that prevent people like Roger committing acts of dreadful violence

lord-of-the-flies-quotation-panel-7

  • This is a description of Ralph after he learns that a naval officer has come to rescue the boys from the island
  • Ralph – despite his occasional impulsiveness and immaturity – is one of the novel’s most reflective characters:
  • Earlier in the novel, the morning after Simon’s murder, he acknowledges his own part in the killing (unlike Piggy, who refuses to accept responsibility) 
  • Here, he reflects on the actions and behaviour of the entire group, and cries as he realises how terrible they have become (how far they have come from being “innocent” children)
  • Ralph’s weeping is prompted by coming in contact with a figure who represents the society he tried – and failed – to recreate on the island:
  • The naval officer represents order, rules and all grown-ups (who are often referred to and symbolise the society they have come from)
  • Ralph’s feelings are perhaps Golding’s own:
  • It could be argued that Golding believes that there is evil inherent in “man’s heart”

Aim for quality not quantity. There are no rules about the number of references you should make to the whole text, but making 2–3 thoughtful, detailed and considered references, closely focused on the question, will attain higher marks than, for example, 6–7 brief and undeveloped references.

Some people assume that Lord of the Flies is a religious allegory , but this reading is perhaps too simple: instead, Golding seems to explore the complex relationship between the inner nature of human beings and external value systems, such as Christianity. 

lord-of-the-flies-quotation-panel-8

 “Simon found for them the fruit they could not reach" - Narrator, Chapter 3

  • This comes after Simon has worked with Ralph building huts for the group – here, he is described picking fruit for the younger children
  • It can be argued that Simon is used by Golding not just to represent absolute human goodness, but also as a representation of Jesus Christ:
  • Here, Simon giving food to those who cannot feed themselves is reminiscent of the Biblical tale of the feeding of the 5,000
  • Like Jesus, Simon aims to help those less fortunate than himself, getting the fruit the littluns “could not reach”
  • However, unlike Jesus, Simon cannot inspire others to perform good deeds:
  • Golding seems to be referencing the idea of divine grace , which is where the actions of God (or Jesus) inspires other good acts by those that witness them
  • Like Jesus, Simon is killed by his peers, but this doesn’t result in a change of behaviour in the boys, nor does Simon return:
  • There is no resurrection; Simon’s death is final
  • This could be Golding suggesting that even external value systems like Christianity cannot shift the boys’ embracing of savagery

lord-of-the-flies-quotation-panel-9

 “He's queer, he's funny" - Ralph, Chapter 3

  • Ralph calls Simon strange in a conversation with Jack, after Simon has walked off
  • It is telling that even though Ralph has consistently said that Simon is the only boy that has helped him, he refers to him pejoratively behind his back:
  • Simon has just helped Ralph build huts all day
  • However, he describes him as “queer”, meaning strange, which instantly isolates Simon from the rest of the group
  • This rejection of Simon, despite his focus on community and his altruism , perhaps reveals Golding’s true feelings about human nature:
  • Instead of being embraced, Simon, this Christ-like figure, is marginalised
  • He is marginalised even by the character – Ralph – who sees the value in society and cooperation the most
  • This suggests that Golding believes that human beings naturally reject community in favour of i ndividualism

Golding uses the two characters of Ralph and Jack to represent two styles of leadership: Ralph symbolises democracy , while Jack represents authoritarianism . Ultimately, Golding seems to suggest that – although it does more harm than good – people are more attracted to the powerful rule of autocracy .

lord-of-the-flies-quotation-panel-10

 “We've got to have rules and obey them. After all, we're not savages" - Jack, Chapter 2 

"We'll have rules! ... Lots of rules! Then when anyone breaks 'em-" - Jack, Chapter 2

  • The first quotation comes during one of the first meetings held by the boys, where Ralph and Jack attempt to establish order
  • The second quotation is stated by Jack later in the same meeting
  • This pair of quotations, both stated during the same episode of the novel, reveals Jack’s attitude to rules:
  • While Ralph and Piggy look to establish rules and responsibilities to benefit the group as a whole, Jack revels in the prospect of creating rules in the first place:
  • When Jack talks of creating rules he isn’t thinking about how they might benefit others
  • If Jack makes the rules then he gains authority
  • If anyone breaks these rules, Jack believes he has the right to punish the boys if “anyone breaks ’em–”
  • These quotations foreshadow Jack’s authoritarianism and desire for absolute power later in the novel
  • The second quotation also foreshadows  his capacity for violence and torture

lord-of-the-flies-quotation-panel-11

 “Which is better - to have rules and agree, or to hunt and kill? - Piggy, Chapter 11

"Bollocks to the rules! We're strong - we hunt!" - Jack, Chapter 5

  • The first quotation comes as Piggy and Ralph look to reason with Jack on Castle Rock, just before Piggy is killed
  • The second quotation is stated by Jack in an argument he has with Ralph about how the island is being run
  • The first quotation neatly sums up Golding’s central question in Lord of the Flies: do humans naturally prefer to pull together for the community as a whole, or act as individuals following their base instincts?
  • Ralph and Piggy represent the first idea (“have rules and agree” = civilisation)
  • Jack, Roger and the hunters represent the second (“hunt and kill” = savagery)
  • Piggy’s desperate plea here in Chapter 11 also allows Golding to contrast the leadership styles of Ralph and Jack:
  • Ralph has attempted throughout the novel to establish rules that work for all of the boys
  • Piggy also uses the word “agree”, which refers to the idea of consensus and democracy
  • Jack, on the other hand, prioritises personal freedom
  • He rejects the rules from early on in the novel (“Bollocks to the rules!”) in favour of his own individual desires (“we hunt”)
  • Ultimately, Golding suggests that humanity’s desire for personal freedom wins out over the compromise, or sacrifice, involved with agreeing and having rules

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Lord of the Flies

By william golding.

This well-loved and much-debated novel is filled with striking and memorable quotes. Golding makes use of incredible examples of imagery as he describes the transformation of the boys from civilized members of modern society to savages.

Lee-James Bovey

Article written by Lee-James Bovey

P.G.C.E degree.

There are several prominent themes that run throughout the novel . Perhaps the most prominent is the idea of savagery versus civilization and the inherent evil within man. Below are a few of the most the quotes that highlight this theme throughout the novel.

Lord of the Flies Quotes

There isn’t no beast – not with claws and all that.

This line is taken from a section of the book where the boys are debating whether or not there is a beast and speculating on what it might be. This line is one of the first suggestions that the beast is not a physical entity but rather the manifestation of the evil that exists within men.

Savagery vs. Civilization

We’ve got to have rules and obey them. After all, we’re not savages. We’re English, and the English are best at everything.

What is particularly provocative about this line is that it is uttered by Jack, who later in the book encourages the boys to abandon the rules that they have in place. The line is deeply rooted in irony. Given England’s history of acting savagely towards nations that they deemed to be less advanced and even savage, particularly during their colonial days making this quote is even more powerfully ironic in the current climate.

Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Spill her blood.

This is a chant that the boys use to role-play killing the pig. This is particularly interesting as there are no female characters in the novel , so the sow is the only representation of femininity. The desire to rid the island of femininity seems to be a powerful concept. When the children start chanting this, it becomes quite jarring, almost scary .

In my opinion, this is one of the most unnerving parts of the novel , as it really helped to portray a frenzy. And while I personally do not hold with Golding’s wider message, there are certainly examples in the real world where peer pressure has led to frenzies like the one described here. For instance, two rival schools clashed in the UK, and several students were badly injured or died due to the fray.

Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart, and the fall through the air of the true, wise friend called Piggy.

Piggy’s death really symbolizes the end of any reason. While Ralph is displayed as a democratic leader throughout the text, Piggy is the brains of the operation. Piggy’s glasses are symbolic of progress and technology, and Piggy himself represents the human ability to harness that and to be progressive, so when he is killed, it is a sign that the boys have fully regressed. This is the moment where Golding truly drives home his point that darkness exists at the very core of mankind.

Transformation

The mask was a thing on its own, behind which Jack hid, liberated from shame and self-consciousness.

The boys and in particular Jack and his hunters, start to paint their faces. These masks symbolize the descent into savagery. When this quote states that Jack is being liberated, the insinuation is that he is being freed by the constraints of society. That he is effectively becoming a savage and embracing the evil which William Golding suggests is inside all human beings.

The conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist.

There are several points in the novel where you could claim lines are crossed but given the symbolism of the conch. The fact that it represents civilization, you can pinpoint the abandonment of civility to this very moment. The conch breaking represents the breakdown of civilization, and it is a point where there is no return.

Memory of the dance that none of them had attended shook all four boys convulsively.

In these lines, readers might find themselves reminded of the concept of “groupthink” from Orwell’s groundbreaking novel, ‘ 1984 ‘. It is evident here as the group of boys tries to repress their actions. The only child that really seems to have been pure is Simon, and all four of the boys played a hand in his death. It does not really matter that they were under the impression that Simon was the Beast– they reverted to their most basic nature.

What are Piggy’s last words?

Piggy’s last words are: “Which is better, law and rescue, or hunting and breaking things up.”

What is the most important message of Lord of the Flies?

The most important message is that fear and the loss of social structures lead to the devolution of society.

Who kills Piggy?

Piggy is killed by Roger in Chapter 11 of ‘ Lord of the Flies ‘ . This happens right after he crushes the conch shell.

Lord of the Flies Book by William Golding Digital Art

Lord of the Flies Quiz

Test your understanding of human nature and survival with our " Lord of the Flies " Trivia Quiz! Do you have the insight and knowledge to navigate the complex dynamics and symbolism of William Golding's masterpiece? Accept the challenge now and prove your mastery over the gripping and thought-provoking world of " Lord of the Flies "!

1) What happens to the conch shell?

2) Who is responsible for maintaining the signal fire?

3) What is the significance of the beast in the novel?

4) Who leads the boys in the brutal killing of Simon?

5) What happens to the boy with the mulberry-colored birthmark?

6) How are the boys finally rescued?

7) What do the boys chant during their tribal rituals?

8) What does the "Lord of the Flies" symbolize?

9) Who is the last boy to remain loyal to Ralph?

10) Who is the first boy to suggest the existence of a "beast" on the island?

11) What does Ralph cry for at the end of the novel?

12) What do the boys use to start a fire?

13) What is the "Lord of the Flies"?

14) What theme does "Lord of the Flies" primarily explore?

15) What is Jack's main priority on the island?

16) How does Piggy die?

17) Which character represents the voice of reason and intelligence?

18) What event causes the boys to be stranded on the island?

19) What role does Roger play in the novel?

20) What tragic event occurs when the boys reenact the hunt?

21) What is the main source of conflict between Ralph and Jack?

22) Who is the author of "Lord of the Flies"?

23) What is Ralph's main concern throughout the novel?

24) Why do Jack and his hunters attack Ralph's camp?

25) What object is used to symbolize authority and order?

26) What does the face paint symbolize for Jack's tribe?

27) Who is elected leader of the boys at the beginning of the novel?

28) What do the boys call the younger children on the island?

29) Who discovers the true nature of the "beast"?

30) How does the naval officer react when he sees the boys?

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Lee-James Bovey

About Lee-James Bovey

Lee-James, a.k.a. LJ, has been a Book Analysis team member since it was first created. During the day, he's an English Teacher. During the night, he provides in-depth analysis and summary of books.

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lord of the flies essay quotes

Lord of the Flies

William golding, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

Theme Analysis

Human Nature Theme Icon

Although Golding argues that people are fundamentally savage, drawn toward pleasure and violence, human beings have successfully managed to create thriving civilizations for thousands of years. So that disproves Golding's theory about human nature being savage, right? Wrong. The famous psychologist Sigmund Freud argued that without the innate human capacity to repress desire, civilization would not exist. In Lord of the Flies , Golding makes a similar argument. He depicts civilization as a veil that through its rules and laws masks the evil within every individual. So even while civilizations thrive, they are merely hiding the beast. They have not destroyed it.

The Lord of the Flies is a chronicle of civilization giving way to the savagery within human nature, as boys shaped by the supremely civilized British society become savages guided only by fear, superstition, and desire. And even before the boys become fully savage under Jack , Golding shows hints of the savage beast within society by showing Piggy 's love of food, the way the boys laugh when Jack mocks Piggy, and all the boys' irrational fear of the " beast ." And as the boys on the island shed civilization for savagery, the adults of the supposedly "civilized" world outside the island are engaged in a savage and brutal worldwide nuclear war.

Civilization ThemeTracker

Lord of the Flies PDF

Civilization Quotes in Lord of the Flies

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Lord of The Flies — Depiction of Humans as Inherently Evil in the Lord of The Flies

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Depiction of Humans as Inherently Evil in The Lord of The Flies

  • Categories: Lord of The Flies

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Words: 1092 |

Pages: 2.5 |

Published: Jun 29, 2018

Words: 1092 | Pages: 2.5 | 6 min read

Table of contents

Lord of the flies essay outline, lord of the flies essay example, introduction.

  • Introduction to the theme of 'the darkness of man's heart' in "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding
  • Mention of primitivism, savagery, and human nature as central themes

'Fear of the Unknown' and its Impact

  • Fear of the beast and the island as a representation of the unknown
  • The emergence of fear at nightfall and in dreams
  • Jack's manipulation of the boys' fear for his gain
  • Simon's understanding of the true nature of the beast

The Collapse of Order and Authority

  • The boys' initial adherence to societal rules
  • The deterioration of their appearance and behavior on the island
  • The role of authority figures in maintaining order
  • The transformation of Roger into a violent and ruthless character

Jack's Descent into Evil

  • Jack's initial compliance with societal norms
  • His rebellion against Ralph's leadership
  • The formation of Jack's savage tribe
  • Jack's brutal and merciless actions towards the end

The Symbolism of the Beast

  • The evolving perception of the beast
  • Piggy and Simon's insights into the true nature of the beast
  • The beast as a representation of the darkness within human nature
  • The overarching theme of humans being inherently evil
  • The impact of fear, the collapse of order, and the symbolism of the beast on the boys' behavior
  • The reflection of the darkness in human nature portrayed in "Lord of the Flies"

Works Cited

  • Goldhurst, W. (1964). The Lord of the Flies: A Study in the Inner Conflict of the Human Psyche. University of California Press.
  • Golding, W. (1954). Lord of the Flies. Faber and Faber.
  • Hynes, S. (1962). William Golding: The Man and His Books. Faber and Faber.
  • Johnson, R. L. (1997). The Evolution of the Symbolic System in Lord of the Flies. William Golding's Lord of the Flies. Chelsea House Publishers.
  • Koopmans, M. (2021). The Psychology of Evil: William Golding’s Lord of the Flies. Human Ethology Bulletin, 36(2), 16-25.
  • Kristeva, J. (1980). Desire in language: A semiotic approach to literature and art. Columbia University Press.
  • Lindop, G. (2010). A literary guide to England and Wales. Methuen Publishing.
  • Rosenfield, C. L. (1963). The Characters of Lord of the Flies. The Antioch Review, 23(3), 347-362.
  • Tiger, V. (1965). The Beast in the Lord of the Flies. The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism, 23(1), 53-58.
  • Zimbardo, P. G. (2007). The Lucifer effect: Understanding how good people turn evil. Random House LLC.

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    Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Spill her blood. This is a chant that the boys use to role-play killing the pig. This is particularly interesting as there are no female characters in the novel, so the sow is the only representation of femininity. The desire to rid the island of femininity seems to be a powerful concept.

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    Get free homework help on William Golding's Lord of the Flies: book summary, chapter summary and analysis, quotes, essays, and character analysis courtesy of CliffsNotes. In Lord of the Flies , British schoolboys are stranded on a tropical island. In an attempt to recreate the culture they left behind, they elect Ralph to lead, with the intellectual Piggy as counselor.

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    Suggested Essay Topics. PDF Cite. Chapter 1: "The Sound of the Shell". 1. Examine the characters of Ralph, Jack, or Piggy in terms of what they possess that link them with their past lives ...

  15. Civilization Theme in Lord of the Flies

    Savagery and the "Beast". Themes and Colors. LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Lord of the Flies, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Although Golding argues that people are fundamentally savage, drawn toward pleasure and violence, human beings have successfully managed to create thriving civilizations ...

  16. Essays on Lord of The Flies

    Choosing the right essay topic is a crucial step in your academic journey. It's an opportunity to explore your creativity, delve into personal interests, and engage with the themes and ideas presented in the novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding. We aim to provide you with a variety of essay topics, introduction paragraph examples, and conclusion paragraph examples for different essay types.

  17. Depiction of Humans as Inherently Evil in the Lord of The Flies: [Essay

    Overall, the essay provides a clear and concise analysis of Lord of the Flies, exploring the themes of fear of the unknown, the absence of authority and order, and the darkness of man's heart. The writer has structured the essay well, with an introduction, three main body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

  18. TIL that there was a real-life Lord of the Flies-esque ...

    There's no higher force that's coming to rescue the adults, as the adults rescued the boys. No one is coming to save them. It's went I feel that Lord of the Flies is a rare example of a good deus ex machina- far from being a cop-out, it makes the reader ask the question that the book wants us to ask, and the answer is the point of the book.