2.3.2 Clearing in the interpretation of human darkness
One more setting that aids in the revelation of evil in the children is the clearing where Simon goes to think. The clearing is a secluded natural area “among the creepers [...] [where there was] the great mat that was woven by the open space.” [5] The clearing is depicted as a peaceful place where the sun is always shining. “Beyond the screen of leaves the sunlight pelted down and the butterflies danced in the middle their unending dance. He knelt down and the arrow of the sun fell on him.” [5] The clearing is full of flowers and butterflies and is initially a beautiful place. The butterflies are a symbol of memories of the past, which flutter through Simon’s mind while in the clearing. The clearing is an exquisite place where Simon goes to escape all the bad on the island, until it too is corrupted by evil. “They [the flies] were black and iridescent green and without number; and in front of Simon, the Lord of the Flies hung on his stick and grinned.”[5] The boys corrupt the purity of the clearing by bringing the head of the pig, a result of evil actions, into it. The boys cannot simply leave the clearing alone and let it remain serene. The evil inside them compels the children to spread that evil throughout even the most chaste areas.
2.3.3 Jungle in the interpretation of human darkness
The last setting that conveys the idea of evil being innate within the children is the jungle. The jungle represents evil being hidden within. “Soon the high jungle closed in. Tall trunks bore unexpected pale flowers all the way up to the dark canopy [...] the air here was dark too.” [5] The jungle is frequently described as a dark place, often containing something frightening, whether it is the “snake-thing” or the beast. The dark jungle is located in the heart of the island. This represents a “heart of darkness”; evil inside the children along with inside the island. Deep within the jungle is where the pigs are hunted and killed. These entities show evil existing on the inside of something, in this case, the jungle. The malevolent creatures hiding within the jungle allude to evil also hiding inside of the children.
3 The Consideration from Golding’s Vew of Human Darkness
In modern times, with the continuous development of science and technology, human being is full of optimistic spirit for future. People believe more and more deeply that scientific and democratic forces can conquer everything in the world and the reason and wisdom within human being is invincible. The two world wars, in particular, the Second World War in twentieth century bring mankind the devastating disaster, which begin to give rise to the reflection on humanity itself and its existence, reflecting on human’s reason and instinctive desire, reflecting on the possible prospects of social development, which may be wonderful or horrible.
3.1 The fall of civilization
It is a question that what causes the fall of civilization in Lord of Flies has given rise to much speculation in critical circles. In Lord of Flies the root for the fall of civilization arises from one reason: the propensity for evil. In fact, the name of the novel, Lord of Flies is the very reason for the fall of civilization. Golding suggests that it is just an externalization of the propensity for evil in everyone’s heart, dwelling in no other place than our innermost.
According to the explanation of Freud, Golding’s Lord of Flies is equivalent to the id, the unconscious which does not know right from wrong, has no perspective on the possibilities and impossibilities of the real world and has no inhibitions [9]. A wild island without the direct restraint of civilization provides a gifted opportunity for the full play of the id. Driven by the ‘principle of pleasure’, the children kill the pigs on the island to satisfy their stomachs and in return, the luring meat triggers their lust for blood and conquest. The slaughter and anatomy of the fat sow nurturing her young is one of the most thrilling scenes in the novel, giving full exhibition of the craze and ferocity of these children when the evil in their inner beings burst. At this moment they have stripped themselves of all the vestiges of civilization and are free to follow their basest instincts.
3.2 Golding’s expectation for human nature
Golding is a great writer with strong social responsibility and concern. Under the veil of exposing the defects of human nature hides a heart of love, pity, and salvation.
Golding knew that evil cannot be got rid of or extinguished for it is part of ourselves. Therefore, in case of its flagrancy, the best work we can do is to check it and restrain it. Once in a broadcast on the BBC, Kermode summarized Golding’s view of the relationship between evil and check, “Out of a human group of this kind, the human invention of evil will proceed, provided that certain quite arbitrary checks are not present.” Golding answered, “Yes, I think so; I think that the arbitrary checks that you talked about are nothing but the fruit of bitter experience of people who are adult enough to realize.” [1]He believes that science cannot be our savior alone, a cure for all. He says, “The darkness was all around, inexplicable, unexorcised, haunted, a gulf across which the ladder lay without reaching to the light.” [10] Here the darkness refers to the evil of the heart which cannot be illuminated by the force of science alone. In his opinion, with the help of healthy morality the evil can be controlled.转贴于 酷文网-论文下载中心 http://www.coolwen.net
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