In many novels chapter one introduces the characters and the setting. In William Golding’s Lord of the Flies he not only introduces characters, settings, but also gives off clues to up coming events, by using the activities that the characters participaid in while in civilization. In the begging civilization is nothing big to the characters but a part of their normal life, there Golding gives off a clue, that laws, rules, policeman and schools are necessary to keep the darker side of human nature in line. But once the existence of civilization is abolished human beings revert to a more primitive part of their nature.
The basic premise of Lord of the Flies is that humans naturally live in savagery and ignorance, without any idea how to live and how to live together. Every detail of chapter one holds symbolism. For example, Ralph, Jack, Piggy, Simon, Roger, Sam, and Eric each represent an aspect of civilized humanity, those who represent human nature survive, those who are self-actualized, the leaders die. Even their names hold meaning, Ralph’s name means counsel, Jack’s means (one who supplants) reflecting his use of force, Piggy’s name reflects is superior intellect, Simon’s means listener and Rogers means spear. This gives a clue to who could be the leader and who might survive and why society on the island broke down.
While reading chapter one, the reader can discover one of the many themes of the story. The need for civilization is the most obvious one. With out civilization man tries to define himself. Maybe that’s why Jack Merridew in civilization is the leader of the boys’ choir then is the leader of the tribe. How ironic that in the beginning the characters are described as well-educated young boys and turn out to be savage, ignorant boys. This is because they had no understanding of their surroundings and no idea of how to act without boundaries. In the begging the island is Paradise but as fear of the beast grows it begins to seem more like a prison to those who are still in touch with reality.
The island is much like earth; we are trapped on it just like the boys are on the island. To the boys it’s as if war has destroyed civilization and they are the only survivors, just like us we think we are the only life in the galaxy and maybe we might be wrong.
