Lord Of The Flies Comparison
Research Question
How do the similarities and differences between R.M. Ballantyne s The Coral Island and William
Golding s Lord of the Flies emphasize their differing opinions on the nature of evil?
Introduction
When I first read Lord of the Flies, in seventh grade, I terrified my mother when I came home from
school talking about the potential evil in all men s souls. Later that year, someone asked me what my
favorite book was and, without hesitation, I responded Lord of the Flies. The shocked look on her face
revealed that this was not the response she was expecting. Being only eleven, I did not understand the
full implications of what I was saying about evil, what my favorite book might say about me, and why
hearing those words from a child ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Using fear, as rumor of a monster s presence on the island becomes more and more real to the boys,
and promises of meat, Jack successfully manipulates a majority of the group to leave Ralph. After
Piggy s death, the rest of the littluns, that had been with Ralph, join Jack s group, less out of fear of a
beast and more out of fear of Jack. This isolation, the contempt Jack feels towards Ralph, and the
unnerving power that Jack holds over the rest of the boys culminates in the final hunt, where Jack
orders the boys to track down and kill Ralph. Such a moment does not occur in The Coral Island.
Throughout Ballantyne s novel, the boys remain friends and trusted companions. When Ballantyne s
Ralph is kidnapped by pirates, the boys mourn him, thinking he has died. Ralph and Peterkin never
question Jack s judgements or plans. Peterkin is always included in conversations, despite his young
age, and respected. When Ralph contemplates how they managed to be so agreeable he comes to a
conclusion: There was, indeed, no discord whatever in the symphony we played together on that sweet
Coral Island; and I am now persuaded that this was owing to our having been all tuned to the same
key namely, that of love! Yes, we loved one another with much fervency while we lived on that island;
and, for a matter of that, we love each other still (Ballantyne 109). Fittingly, the final image of
Ballantyne s boys is of them travelling together towards England, their home. Jack and Ralph s
relationship, from Lord of the Flies, is more complex: They walked along, two continents of
experience and feeling, unable to communicate. [...] They looked at each other, baffled, in love and
hate (Golding 58 59). Jack and Ralph are too similar to get along, yet understand each other well
enough to stay together for a time. The final image of Golding s boys is of them breaking
... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...