Lord of the Flies Seminar
Loss of Identity

Introduction
Lord of the Flies by William Golding depicts a world of violence and moral desolation, which is a result of the main characters' loss of identity. The plot shows a process of events that finally leads to death and collapse of their social structure. The boys go through gradual loss of civility, as English citizens are known to be very proper and well mannered. The experiences the boys undergo on the island expose them to the evil that lies beneath their veil of morality. The experiences affect them drastically both physically and mentally to the point where they lose their pre-established identities. Loss of identity is evident when the boys no longer distinguish between what is …show more content…

- Narrated according to Ralph’s feelings.

Becoming savages and uncivilized
Overtime, the boys lost all sense of civilization and innocence causing their character to change from the beginning to the end of the novel.
“You could have had fire whenever you wanted. But you didn’t. You came sneaking up like a thief and stole Piggy’s glasses!” (Golding 196)
- Ralph  Jack after they stole Piggy’s glasses.
“Which is better- to have rules and agree or to hunt and kill?” (Golding 200)
-Piggy  everyone at Castle Rock right before his death.

Conclusion
It is evident that the characters lost their identity due to their failure in maintaining their civility, thus turning into terrible savages without realizing they have lost all sense of morals and values. English boys have historically been portrayed as civil individuals. Since the main characters’ loss of identity is apparent, it leads to a world of violence and solitude. The boys no longer comprehend what is real and what is an illusion, the death of three boys and the realization after they are rescued that they have been behaving like savage creatures all contribute to the realization that they have lost their identity.

Discussion Question
How does loss of identity help bring about the devastation that occurs in Lord of the Flies? Explain.

Citation

Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. New York: Coward-McCann, 1962.

Loss of Identity Song

Ralph and