William Golding’s View of Human Nature in Lord of the Flies

Abstract

William Golding’s Lord of the Flies offers a profound and unsettling exploration of human nature, challenging the optimistic belief that humans are inherently good and guided by reason. This paper argues that Golding presents a fundamentally pessimistic view of humanity, suggesting that evil is an intrinsic part of human nature that emerges when societal constraints are removed. Through the gradual degeneration of a group of schoolboys stranded on an isolated island, Golding reveals how fragile civilization is and how quickly individuals revert to primitive instincts. By analysing key characters—Ralph, Jack, Piggy, and Simon—this study examines the tension between order and chaos, reason and instinct, morality and savagery. It also explores the symbolic significance of the “beast” and the breakdown of social structures. Ultimately, the paper concludes that Golding views human nature as deeply flawed, requiring continuous discipline, ethical awareness, and societal regulation to prevent moral collapse.