Themes


 * 1. Good versus Evil** - what the characters do and why they do it

** 2. The "Heart of Darkness" or how civilized people can descend into savagery ** - going from an advanced, orderly society into a primitive one ruled by "native" desires, needs and instincts. Are the boys turning into "savages"? Yes they have become savages. Jack has become a savage the most because he puts warrior paint and hunts for pigs and meat exactly like a primitive person. Jack and the other boys have become savages because they are not in a environment where there is civilization and also because they have not supervision. They are just kids! They've become savages because they have to hunt for food and build their own shelters to try to survive.

**3. Rules and Society and the World of Adult Authority** - the importance of rules, common goals, adult versus childish logic and reasoning. Piggy is the main "adult" on the island because he is the one that actually thinks of a way that they could get off the island. He also came up with the idea of using the conch as a form of speech and power. Without Piggy there would be even more chaos on the island than there already is. Yes we do need rules because without rules everyone can do whatever they want making things get out of control. Do we need to be surrounded by the confines of society act civilized?

**4. Nature versus Nuture** - is person born "good" or "evil" or does that person learn to be good or evil? Which has a stronger effect on a person: genetics or the environment in which he/she is raised? I think that is a person is not born good or evil. My opinion is that people choose to become good or evil as they go along in their journey of life. The environment in which he/she is raised is most important because you can be born good but if you live in an environment where all you see is violence then you will also become violent.

** 5. Survival of the Fittest ** - what characteristics are valued? Who is "fit" to make decisions? Why? What skills (physical, mental) are needed to survive on this island? Which chratcers have those strengths? The characteristics that are valued are mainly being able to hunt for meat and food. Jack is the most fit to

**6. Fear** - how does fear rule the characters' lives? Is it real or imagined? Fear rules the characters lives because it controls everything that they do to surrvive. For example when they go out hunting they look for the beast to make sure they are safe. The fear is imagined. Imagine yourself stranded on an island with no form of government of civilization, you will start to go crazy and think that there could be anything on the island not just yourself. That's what all the kids are imagining.

** 7. Humans versus Nature ** - how do the boys treat their surroundings? Do they have a thirst for natural destruction? Are they working against their natural environment or using it their advantage? Why environmental messages are being conveyed in the book? 8. Hunters. vs. Gatherers. Jack and Ralph are fighting over who is more important the hunters or the gatherers. Will they spilt ip into two different tribes? or will they stay together and work things out?

Meat vs Fire- It's turning out to be two sides... Jack and the meat or Ralph and the fire. Ralph wants the fire so they can leave. However, Jack wants meat for them to stay on the island. They're becoming way more separate