Do you that children are really capable of such evil?

[André]

They don't act like that, but they may think like that... get them out of their usual environment and the the result may be the same. Perhaps that's what Golding was trying to make us understand.

[[deleted user]]

Definitely. Inside each adult is the child they started with and the first casualty of the children's circumstance is Ralph's proposed democracy, in favor of a cult of personality around Jack.

[Monty J]

Toni wrote: "Definitely. Inside each adult is the child they started with and the first casualty of the children's circumstance is Ralph's proposed democracy, in favor of a cult of personality around Jack."

And this is what I suspect Golding was driving at. LOTF is a cautionary tale about how people's insecurities can cause them to lose sight of their better reasoning and slip into fascism. Those insecurities will be exploited by those who feel they must be in control and to hell with democratic principles.

It's a scary proposition. It keeps happening, despite what mankind learned during the last world war.

[[deleted user]]

I agree, Monty. It is scary and it does keep happening which, I think, is what makes the use of young people work so well. Here's a new generation that quickly relinquishes all ideals and slides into fascism. Jack uses food, the sense of belonging to a 'happening' crowd and the thrill of the hunt to seduce the other boys.

[Monty J]

Toni wrote: "Jack uses food, the sense of belonging to a 'happening' crowd and the thrill of the hunt to seduce the other boys."

And charisma and intimidation.

[[deleted user]]

Right and the intimidation is aimed at any boy who might think he wants to help Ralph and Piggie who are effectively isolated. Piggie is a perfect scapegoat and Ralph is Jack's sole threat. Once they're isolated, Jack's power is secure in a situation that's about to unravel.

[Drey]

I don't think it matters that they are children. I believe everybody has a side that is not so good, and certain situation may unleash it.

the novel focuses on the lost of civilization...at first the boys are still full of moral codes but they slowly lose their civilization as the novel progresses.

there are no laws and rules to bind them, so they become almost primal.