British Cultural Indicators- The Lord of the Flies

[uni boy 04]

Would anyone agree that the novel is a valid British culural indicator, as it represents the thoughts of Golding towards British culture at the time of writing? Any views would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

[woofgang]

If it represents the thoughts of only one person, then the only thing that it is a valid indicator of is the thoughts of that person. If it was  based on research or any kind of consultation of a representative cross section of the public at that time then it could be valid

[uni boy 04]

Thanks, i'm just unsure as to whether or not the book can be seen as an indicator in general or not?!

[woofgang]

well how the book was critically viewed might be seen as an indicator...eg if a book praising Hitler was seen as a good book and loads of oeple read it and loved it then that might be an indicator of the views of the time. Of course loads ofg people might read the book for its shock value, so it might sell loads without saying something that people agree woth!!

[woofgang]

sorry about the typos, its early!!

[uni boy 04]

ok, thanks!

[PlainJane]

I always remember being told the book was a dystopic parody of Ballantynes book, Coral Island, but it also has some religous overtones (notice any Christ like central characters?)
It is, of course, a book of its time, and reflects a selfish/unselfish view of society.

[uni boy 04]

it is true that the book contains many religious undertones such as the symbolism of characters like Simon and the Lord of the Flies who are lkened to Jesus and Satan respectively. I was just wondering whether the book is a sign of culture at the time of writing, as many wondered how civilization could create such chaos like war.

[PlainJane]

Yes that is true, but there is more to it. William Golding seemed generally pessemistic, and the book reflects his views. It is also a commentary on the forces that keep civil society together, and the regression of behavioiur if those restraints are removed. This does not make it as simple as your question postulates, and I would suggest that it is both more subtle, and of more general applicatioin than that. On the other hand the structure of the book and the narrative do mask its complexity.

[Peter Pedant]

Hi Uni - I am not a Eng Lit major BUT

of course a novel such as Golding's is a cultural indicator.

The novel is about a children's society and in order to sell (or be read) - it is after all a successful novel, it has to resonate with the reader (or else he will go and read the Sun).

So think about a novel set in the South Seas, would it have be as successful?

But not only that take Dickens or Trollope who set one series in Church. The stting has to known to the reader and agreeable to him. Novels which disgusted the reader at that time - hardy's Jude the obscure - where the eldest child hangs the other four and writes - dun because we are too menny - still may have resonation. Macaulays wife commented that we dont have to read about such societies as this, but she did not deny that something likethat could occur.

 

Hope this helps

[davver]

Golding originally wrote the novel with an ending where the boys all killed each other, but he was made to write a (sort of) happy ending by his publisher. Similar, perhaps, to the original ending of 28 Days Later, where the transmission turns out to be merely a recording and they all die. I am very glad of these happy endings, as the stories would be just too dark without them! However, it is interesting to consider the authors' first drafts and the ideas they raise, so I think it is good that we know about the revisions made.

[jno]

it's a story about civilisation collapsing very quickly once the gloves are off. No doubt it represents Golding's own views, but the fact that it has always been popular suggests it functions more broadly as a cultural indicator too. I imagine its pessimism about civilisation arose from the events of the war and the holocaust, and must have been widely shared.