Final LOTF Post

[Kate]

What is your reaction to the ending of Lord of the Flies, as well as the novel as a whole? Who would you recommend it to? What life lesson can you take away from the novel?

[Vivian]

Vivian Tieu Period 1 #28
I was really shocked with the ending of the novel. I really hoped and thought that all the savages would still be stranded on the island and Ralph was the only one who got rescued. But, I really liked that Jack lost all authority because there was an adult; he finally came back to reality. I was upset that Samneric were captured by Jack and his hunting tribe; I thought they would have resisted him. It sucks that Piggy died though, I really wanted him to be saved! Roger justs scares me, is he a psychopath or something?? I guess I'm glad that the the savages has come back to their senses and realized that they were actually human! I personally wouldn't recommend this book; it's too crazy and wild. From this novel, I learned that people should learn how to resist temptation.

[Celine]

Celine Chen #4
Period 1
Lord of the Flies, to me, has taught me that anything can happen to people when they are put in a tough situation. Some people react and adapt to the circumstances while others continue to live by society rules. I loved the book because it has really shown me the evil that can appear in people, including innocent children. I would recommend this novel to some of my friends and also to parents. This book could open their eyes to see the crazy outcomes of life. The ending was not surprising after reading chapter 11, but I still enjoyed seeing the boys being rescued and finally viewing them as children again.

[Riley]

I was very surprised by the ending of Lord of the Flies because I truly believed that Jack, Roger, and their group of hunters would surely kill Ralph without mercy. I did not even think about the fact that the children could be saved at any moment because, for a while, I completely forgot that there was a world outside of this group of boys. When they were spotted by some adults, I almost jumped out of my seat because, only seconds before, I was becoming extremely nervous for Ralph, trying to figure out what his fate might be. The novel as a whole was amazing. I really enjoyed the repetition and the symbols in this novel because it grabbed my attention and made me want to read more and find out what would possibly happen to these boys who's lives have changed drastically over the past months on the island. I would definitely recommend Lord of the Flies to all of my friends. Well, most of them at least. As long as they can handle reading about the death of innocent people, I think they will enjoy this novel. It was definitely difficult for me to get past that aspect of the novel. I believe that this novel taught me how important it is to make the right decisions and not let another person's power take over the way you will behave and live your life. Everyone should do what they think is right and not have to follow the status quo of others.

[Riley]

Forgot to put my name, number, and period in my previous post...

Riley Herms, #9
Period 1

[Matthew]

Matthew Chang #3
Period 1
As the novel drew to a close, several plot points surprised me. Firstly, the destruction of symbols, including both the Conch and the "Lord of The Flies" representing a deconstruction of civilization, with nothing holding the "Savages" back do do whatever they desire. Next, the instant appearance of and Adult, a Figurehead, a Leader, instantly snapped the boys back into reality, allowing readers to take a step back, and allowed us to realize the bigger picture forming, and realize the fact that the survivors on the island, are only kids.
I would recommend this book to not only my friends and family, but also to readers in general. The deep symbols, motifs and deeper meanings gives every reader a slightly different experience with the novel.
From the novel, I have learned to resist not only temptation, but also anger and hate. Blind rage causes many people, not only in the novel but in real life, to act on their intentions and do things they will likely regret later on.

[Cody]

Cody Dye, #7
Per 1

What really surprised me at the end of the book, was how fast Jack went from some savage, vicious, creature, to an innocent little boy like before as soon as they saw the officer. It showed how fast they could transition back to civilized children as soon as a figure of came into play. I was also very shocked that when the officer asked who was the leader, Jack did not oppose Ralph when he stepped forward. All in all, it was a great book and it taught me how evil a person could be when we are not surrounded by an enforced set of laws.

[Ethanf]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, mostly because of the dark and tense mood throughout most of it. I was a little surprised by the ending, because I expected all of the boys to die in some way. The scary part of the story is that Golding is not suggesting the boys are less human than civilization; rather, he is saying that they are MORE human than civilization, because they have shown the true nature of the human race. I would recommend it to anyone who is willing to see the truth about the heart of mankind. One thing I've have come to understand by reading this novel is that Golding is right; we are all evil, and we must be trained to be good. We have to resist the allure of abusing our freedoms.

Ethan Fong
Period 3
#12

[Derek]

Derek Wan, #30
Period 3

Upon the arrival of the ship, Jack’s savages abruptly revert back to children, a surprising change given that Ralph noted earlier that the image of Bill as a normal boy in shorts was “ancient.” Despite the time the boys spent on the island and how far they stray from humanity, the presence of one adult is enough to bring them back to reality in a few minutes. That was peculiar because most who forsake their conscience do so permanently. In part, the boys’ return to their childhood stems from the fact that the navy officer’s appearance reminds them of society and, more importantly, family and home; the boys are still children despite the atrocities they have committed. In that sense, the ending of the story is consistent with human nature (children yearn to be with their parents) but contradicts the message Golding attempts to convey in Lord of the Flies, that all people are inherently evil.

I'd recommend this book to my philosophical, book-smart friends; they'd appreciate the many many MANY literary connections in this story.

Holistically, I find the story disturbing because of its plausibility. Although the chances of anyone crashing on an uncharted island are very slim, the odds of ending up in an equally tough situation are not. On the island, the boys are independent for once in their lives, and, similarly, I’ll eventually be on my own. The predicaments I’ll face will obviously differ greatly from those of the schoolboys, but in society, there are still more than enough ways to stray from good and honorable courses and become immoral beasts. This story serves as a reminder that rational thinking and conduct (proven by the fact that only Ralph is able to speak to the naval officer) is still more powerful than savage, animalistic behavior (the hunting of Ralph) even though it may not seem so.

[Elaine]

Elaine Sun #23
Period 3

It is pretty disappointing that all of the boys that are left are allowed to leave, even Jack and Roger. They had murdered 2 boys and showed no sorrow. Although they are "just boys", they should have at least felt some guilt. After all, they were raised in a society for one portion of their life. All in all, Golding reveals that the beast inside everyone is restricted by civilization. It is clearly shown in Jack. Lord of the Flies was a very enjoyable book, but the deaths are somewhat horrifying. The idea that society controls the savagery in people is a very interesting topic that many people should look into.

[Winniechen]

Winnie Chen
Period 3
#6
This book showed how different people adapt under certain circumstances. It really shows the evil within all of us. It teaches that you don't really know someone until you've seen their actions in a tough situation. People will start to change when there are no authority or nothing controlling them. I was a bit surprised by the way Jack acted as soon as an adult appeared. It seemed like he became a completely different person and it shocked me. I would recommend this book to my friends and to readers. I normally don't like reading books but surprisingly, i really enjoyed this novel!

[Tiffany]

Tiffany Kao #12
Period 1

I was surprised at how the novel ended, due to how Golding made Simon and Piggy die; I thought that Ralph would end up being killed by Jack and the other boys, losing the only symbol of civilization left, ending the novel with Jack and the other boys stranded on the island forever. However, the novel ended the opposite of what I imagined it to be, Ralph and the other boys are saved by an officer. I noticed how quickly Jack and the hunters snapped back to society when they saw the officer, and it made me think that children need an adult there to guide them towards the right path. After reading this novel, I realized that everyone has a dark side to them, but it does not show until they are in trouble.

[Austin]

Austin Si Period 1 #27

The ending of Lord of the Flies came as a surprise to me. I thought that Ralph was going to end up killing Jack and taking control of the boys, but I was wrong. The book as a whole shows the darkness that is hidden within all of us. I would recommend this book to anyone in middle school or up because it introduces the reality that not everyone is good. This book does a good job at showing that everyone has a little evil in them and that no one is completely good. Even Sam and Eric, who were loyal to Ralph after Jack's tribe formed, ratted out Ralph's hiding spot. Overall, I enjoyed this book with it's exploration of human nature, and I would recommend it to anyone who has already lost their sense of "innocence".

[Leah]

Leah Rickard #19
Period 3
The ending of the book really surprised me because I was really hoping that Jack and the rest of the hunters would get what they deserve and stay stranded on the island. Ralph deserved to be rescued because throughout all of the events that took place, he was always concerned with getting rescued. His rationality and personality made him a well-liked character, along with Simon and Piggy. I was very upset with the deaths of both of them because they both were done in a way that left the hunters unphased. At the end however, I was impressed that after all the fighting Jack was able to give up his self-given title as chief and go back to the way things were before. This book has taught me that everyone has something inside of them that causes them to be savage and evil, but with the help of order and law, we are able to stay rational even in the midst of difficult situations.

[Brion]

Brion Robles
period 1
#23
The end of Lord of the Flies was not expected on the part that the children were saved. I thought at the beginning of the end that Ralph and Jack were going to have and epic face off where Ralph would ultimately prevail. However when the Royal Marine showed up and rescues them from their trouble and craziness. This was a surprise because I personally thought that they would never be saved. I would recommend this to my sister and friends for it would give them a lot to think about. The lesson that I learned is not to lose my mind when my pride is hurt like Jack did.

[Fernanda]

Fernanda Sandoval #25
Period 1

The ending of Lord of the Flies surprised me. From the various clues given by Golding like "[the] stick [being] sharpened at both ends," I expected that Jack and his tribe would find Ralph and do what they had planned to do to him. What surprised me the most was the fact that they quickly snapped back to reality after seeing an adult. Even though they had done many evil things, they begin to cry. Their evil disappears and they don't take the blame for any of their actions. Shouldn't they feel even a little guilt?

Overall, the novel is a great way to show readers the possible change in human mentality. I learned that even children can become evil and they are capable of doing evil things that adults usually do.

[Gabriell]

Gabriell Padua
Period 1
#21

I personally was surprised and disappointed by the ending to the Lord of the Flies. I did not think that Jack and the rest of the boys would be rescued. Instead, I would have liked to see the boys slowly start to turn on one another and kill each other off. This way, Golding could further emphasize how our own savagery could lead to our own downfall. Without morals and logic, we will gradually cause our own annihilation. The rest of the novel is a great representation of what our uncontrollable inner "beast". I would recommend this book to those who are intrigued by human behavior, and the idea of nature versus nurture. What I took away from this novel is that people will be people, and it is a natural instinct to look out only for themselves. As long as we think of ourselves, shall we remain within the clutches of our inner animals. It is our morality and ability to look out for others that separates us from beasts to humans.

[WildTurtle (Sam Yu)]

Samantha Yu #32
Period 1


The ending of the novel was very fast paced, intense, and took an unexpected turn. Ralph's panicked state and the chaos of an island crumbling down around the boys really emphasized how the boys had gone to a point of no return. I think the event of the burning island built up a great climax which ultimately ended in a touching resolve. I really enjoyed the detailed descriptions Golding used to depict either the serenity of Simon or the brutality of Jack and his savages. I also liked the subtle hints and foreshadowings of death and almost tangible feelings of fear that Golding conveyed. His descriptions of characters overall brought the situation to life; Ralph's scraggly appearance and unstable mind due to Piggy's death, Jack and Roger's methods of slaughtering pigs and torturing littluns. This novel was really enjoyable and was an intense adventure overall.

[Tamara]

In my opinion, lord of the flies is one of the best books I have read because of the strong symbols it has and how each symbol changes throughout the story and contains a hidden meaning that helps us understand a specific idea. I also loved the main idea that Golding provides in the story which is that evil is born with us and comes out when law and order is taken away. it teaches me the importance of making yourself stronger than the evil inside you and inside of others and not to let the power of evil take over you no matter what the situation is because it will only harm you and others. The ending was very surprising to me. I never expected the boys would be rescued and brought back to civilization especially at this point of the story where all symbols of knowledge, innocence, and civilization have died. I expected that Ralph would be killed and the island will be full of only savage boys living their lives hunting and killing. I would recommend this book to anyone I know because of the important lessons it can teach people.

Tamara Mustafa #33
period 3

[Paul]

Paul Song Period 3
To be honest, i expected the kids to be rescued. Not many authors will write a book that ends with all of the characters doomed. As far as the novel itself goes, i truly enjoyed it. The way it was written, and all of the subtle details that Golding inscribes within it makes it very enjoyable. I would recommend the Lord of the Flies to everyone who is in 8th grade or higher, being that kids under that age might not understand the message behind the book.

[Doris]

I think the ending was really surprising. I thought the boys would be consumed in their own fire and evil, but they end up being saved by the fire they created instead of being destroyed by it. The ending brings us back to reality, showing us that despite the way the characters were portrayed in the novel while they hunted and fought, they are still children. Golding even describes Jack as "a little boy who wore the remains of an extraordinary back cap on his red hair" (201). Golding describes Jack as he really is, or what he appears to be to the officer. Throughout the story we've heard descriptions of Jack perhaps through the other boys, and to the other boys he is bold and fierce. To the officer, though, he's just a little kid who likes to play games. All of the boys are.
The book taught me what really separates a savage and an animal from a civilized human being. I learned that companionship and order is necessary in order to form a civilized society, and once we are taken out of society we become more and more like animals. All human beings, even children, are capable of killing animals and people while in the conscious mind.
I think I would recommend this book to anyone who is in middle school or older. If someone reads this at an age that is too early, they may not understand or catch all the symbolism that lies on every single place, and that's really important to know of. It was a great book overall, and it's really changed my perspective on the nature of human beings.
Doris Li #17
Period 1

[Dillon]

I really enjoyed this novel because of the fast paced organization and the use of symbolism. As I was reading this book I hoped that Ralph, Piggy, and Simon were the only ones to survive. Instead of straying from his main idea, Golding continually reiterates the theme that evil is within us all. The imagery in this novel is one of the key things I enjoyed. Golding describes the animalistic look of the boys to highlight the consequences of the path of savagery. Although the ending was a letdown, I loved it when Jack and the others returned to the path of civilization. This is undoubtedly one of the best books I have ever read and would recommend it to anyone who wishes to read of a tale where evil attempts to overcome humanity.

Dillon Kim #13
Period 1

[Dean]

Dean Papatheodorou #22
Period 1

The ending of the novel came as a surprise for me. I did not expect the surviving boys to be rescued by a naval officer. Even when the boys were rescued, I did not expect them to change there savage personality, especially Jack, so quickly. I overall enjoyed reading this gripping, action-based novel. I would recommend this book to my mom because she constantly asks what is happening. This novel has shown me to not over react and to control my emotions to avoid consequences. I also learned that children are capable of becoming savage beasts when uncivilized.

[Kristen]

I was actually kind of pissed off at the end of the novel because I felt that Simon and Piggy died so unfairly. I'm sorry to say this but I was really hoping for something bad to happen to Jack because he caused so much trouble to everyone else. I wasn't THAT surprised by the ending because there was a lot of foreshadowing about the fire, but I didn't really expect them to be saved. However, I really enjoyed how the plot was more fast-paced then most novels. I liked how Golding made his plot escalate very quickly because that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. This might sound strange but I was expecting the story to be more violent then it already is. I would actually recommend this book to anyone because it really gives you a reality check. The most important lesson that I learned was how much people can change. It's like you can never really know what a person can do or what you can do until you're put into the situation like that.
Kristen Yoo #31
Period 1

[Eric]

Eric Chong #6
Period 1
The ending of Lord of the Flies is very unexpected, yet it is easily predicted. Jack had set the whole island on fire, and Ralph before was also trying to create fire so that they can all be rescued. As a result of the tragic fire, a naval officer comes and rescues them. I really liked the scene where everyone started crying after Ralph explains to the British officer about everything that had happened. I believe that the reason they started crying is because they had realized what they had done and were not themselves. They had murdered two of their friends out of sheer instinct and savagery. When the officer asked for the leader of the group, Ralph said that he was instead of Jack who hesitated to answer. This shows that even though Jack is now leader of the tribe only the civilized Ralph can confront a high authority naval officer. All in all, the ending was quite satisfying to read and I would recommend this book to anyone who is trying to find a good novel to read.

[Michelle]

Michelle Yan #29
Period 1

The final events at the novel were expected, but the timing was a surprise. I was surprised by how fast the boys snapped back to reality. The prescence of just one adult made them realize how violent they were acting. I thought that Ralph would have been killed or one of the main characters would have died. I had hoped that all the boys in the story would survive. Everyone has as a very bad side to them that is shown when put through tought situations. This book is relatable to everyone in at least one way which makes it such a interesting novel.

[Crystal]

The ending was no surprise for me, although I wish Jack and his group would have got what they deserve. Although both Piggy and Simon died in such a short notice, I'm really glad that Ralph made it out alive. I find it really funny about how Jack and his group can snap back to reality from being savages with one person of authority that reminded them of civilization. I was really surprised at Roger's character and how he plays in with the novel. He may be a sidekick, but deep down he was pure evil and vicious, both caused by the savagery he slowly obtained at the island.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book, from all the vivid imagery and symbolism, to the main and obvious facts that the story presented. This book really opened my eyes to see that maybe people are really evil on the inside. I really wonder what would happen if we were left alone for a week without ANY authority.

Crystal Tran #28
Per. 3

[Teja]

The ending was kind of surprising for me because the whole island was set on the fire by Jack, and I was expecting something really bad to happen, but in the end, they luckily got rescued by the Naval Officer who sees and fire and decided to come to the island to see what's happening. It was kind of weird when everyone on the Island who were ones savages change right away and act more civilized right after they see an adult. Overall I think this book was really fun to read, and it helps teach us a lesson about how we all have evil among us, but we have to find a way to control it.

Teja Chilukuri, #8
per. 3

[Bacadiego]

Danielle Baca Period 3 #1
The ending of the book was surprising because I did not think Jack and the rest of the savages would be rescued. However I knew Ralph would be saved and the fact that he is the only one able to respond to the officer is no surprise. Roger was definitely the biggest surprise in the novel because Golding leads you to believe that Jack is the most evil, violent, and savage beast on the island. Although I thought this was an entertaining book the point Golding gets across to the reader is horrid and terrifying. There really is evil in all of us and it gets me thinking about how myself and others would act toward one another if we were not taught to control it. What if civilzation disappeared and the order was gone? The endless possibilities are frightening.

[Maxwell]

I guess Ralph put it best when he mentions the loss of innocence of the boys. When the naval officer steps onto the scene, the reader is reminded that these boys are still children, yet still capable of such savagery and animal-like ways. It's extremely surprising that the boys have the capacity to maim and kill and others at such a young age, younger than I am in fact. This begs the questions 'What if I were stranded on an island?' This book makes for an interesting read for what I think any teenager simply because of how close in age we are to the characters. In all honesty, I'd rather not think about what I would do if I were stranded on an island with my "friends". Society and civilization is what keeps us sane and different from the rest of the animal kingdom; even without our material objects, the ability to rationalize, empathize, and connect is what makes us human.

Maxwell Zhu #33 Per.1

[Caitlin]

Caitlin Coscolluela #10 period 3
The ending of the novel was not a surprise to me. Although I was shocked that Jack gave up his authority so easily, I always thought the boys were going to be rescued. However, I did think some of the savages that lost their sense of civilization, like Roger and Jack, would have preferred to stay on the island to continue to hunt. I guess the sight of adults, and authority snapped them back to reality. Since the beginning of the book, I've noticed a great resemblance to the TV series, Lost. Apart of me expected an ending similar to the series finale. Overall the ending to the novel was satisfying as a reader.

[Jerry]

As the story comes to an end, the children stranded on this isolated island are rescued by the British navy. Before the naval force's rescue, the island was waging a war between Ralph and the Jack's savages. The ending was very exciting and thrilling to anticipate, but it also surprised me how Jack's savages were rescued when Ralph should be the only one. Waging this unnecessary war, Jack and his group of savages are being idiotic and immature. Chasing Ralph all around this stranded island while lighting the whole island in flames, my pulse quickened and dread starts dripping down my neck. What was going to happen? Is Ralph going to be killed or is he going to become a hero that withstand all the savagery? This climax, then, was very thrilling and exciting to read, because we, the readers, have no idea to what will happen. However, as the story concluded with the arrival of a naval officer, I was a bit surprised by such cut in. Being the only sensible leader despite having help from Piggy, Ralph, in my opinion, should have been the only one to be rescued, because Jack's savages were delusional about the hunt and feasting. This rescue surprised me greatly, for Ralph knew he should have been the only one to be rescued, but for some bizarre reason, Jack and his group of hunters were also rescued aboard. The whole novel spoke deeply to me. Realizing the surrounding can be a huge impact, I learned that I have to retain my morals and goals despite my surroundings, because when I give in to such mentality, all effort will be lost in vain. This whole novel, then, shows the imminent threat of nature and evil within a person's soul, through the example of Jack's savagery shown toward the children on this isolated island. After finishing such a moving novel, I would highly recommend this book to my friends, because knowing that this world thrives on competition, I want them to understand that no matter what may occur, they must always be themselves and none other.

[Sean]

Sean Tang-Wang Period 3 #26

Golding once again emphasizes how all men are inherently evil, as seen in Jack's attempt to kill Ralph by setting the fire. However, not all lives were saved: the two probably most "innocent" characters of the novel, Piggy and Simon were eradicated for their superior mentality and morality. In comparison to the other boys of the group, these two boys were what truly showed the purity yet harshness of nature. The ending was, in a way, a complete shock to me for I believed Golding would have thought that Jack did not deserve to be saved. From the very beginning, I believed that Golding would write how Jack chose to stay on the island with the hunters and continue their savage, animalistic ways of life.
I would definitely recommend this book to any individual that wishes for a novel filled with symbols, allegories, vivid descriptions, and imminent deaths. All in all, this book had taught me to control my inner personality, and in any way possible leave such a characteristic hidden inside.

[Jonathan]

The ending to for me in Lord of the Flies was some what expected, relieving, but at the same time disappointing. I did enjoy the tense and fast paced atmosphere Golding created at the end with the manhunt for Ralph. I really was expecting for a final clash between Jack and Ralph or with Ralph and Roger, but neither happened.I think this book has really taught me about to always value your reason and whatever civility you have, for if you do end up in a situation like this, you can lose it all in an instant.I really did enjoy this novel and truly recommend this book for my family, friends and the upcoming sophomores next year.

Jonathan Rodriguez
Period 1
#24

[Paul]

Paul Chang #4
Period 3

Personally, the ending was rather surprising to me. The sudden violent change of the boys was a shock that completely changed the end of the story. After the death of Simon, the savagery and violence of the group of boys escalated very quickly. Simon's death was quickly followed by Piggy's and nearly ended in Ralph's too. The sudden change of attitude from an obsession with hunting to a blood-thirsty and murderous mindset shows the extent in which people can change once removed from the rules of society. Overall, this book was a very good read and I would definitely recommend it to anyone. This book taught me that we all have an evil within us, and without society and rules to control it, we would live very savage lives.

[Alyn]

After Piggy's death and Samneric's forced turn of sides, I felt that Ralph would not survive. Jack and his hunter's savagery is emphasized through the lack of response to Simon and Piggy's death. Since Golding had already killed off two of the five "good" characters, I anticipated an ending where the evil of man's nature ends up taking over the island and reason. There were many instances in which I thought Ralph was going to die. The burning of the forest had me on the edge of my seat- would Ralph have a chance at survival? Although the arrival of the naval officer seems to make this book have a happy ending, I believe that this novel had a sad ending. If the naval officer had not arrived, Ralph would have ultimately died; and the boys would have had no one else to hunt, leading them to eventually die themselves. I wish that Simon and Piggy survived, but the novel would not have been the same without their deaths. I would recommend this book to someone who isn't afraid of main characters dying and facing reality.


Adelynne Chang, #1,
Period 1

[Edmund]

Edmund Tang #24
Period 3

The ending of Lord of the Flies was definitely shocking and intense. When Ralph was hiding, and all the close calls of being caught was very intense. I thought all hope of them being rescued was lost and that the boys would end up killing each other like the savages they are. When they ran into the navy officer, it was very surprising to see the boys reactions. It was good to see that the boys still had civil thoughts and that they were able to understand that everything they did on the island was reality and that there is no changing that. Ralph was the only one who stepped up when the man asked who was in charge. I was glad that Jack was not the one who stepped forward. Jack is not worthy or able to hold such responsibility because or his savage ways. Overall, the novel was like a roller coaster of events just like life. I'd recommend this book to future leaders as this book shows how power can change the way someone behaves and show the extent of what people are willing to do to get power.

[Micah]

Micah Maes, #16
Period 3
I was surprised at the ending of the novel. I did not think that the group of boys would be rescued before another death occurred. When the novel was nearing its end, I began to hope that Jack and Roger would either be killed or not rescued, to prove that a savage life is not a proper life. Due to the fact that Jack was unable to believe in anything other than hunting, I was surprised at how quickly his savage, violent ways were cast aside and he became silent. Ralph on the other hand, remained civil throughout the novel and was easily able to respond to the officer about the events and to claim himself as chief. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book, because it teaches you to respect the civil ways that you have been taught, otherwise you may lose all sense of humanity to savagery. I think that the way that Golding was able to emphasize how the evil inside us is easily revealed is what makes this novel very interesting and satisfying to the reader.

[Daphne]

Daphne Lee, #17
Period 3

The ending of the novel was shocking and unexpected. Who would of known that Jack and the rest of them would be brought back to civilization. Although I kind of knew that Ralph would not die, when the hunters found Ralph, I kept thinking that this is the end. The moment the officer started talking I was a little surprised because I did not know how or when he got here until I remembered that the island was set on fire. Also, the fact that Jack didn't say that he was the leader of the group of boys when the officer asked, sort of surprised me because he has this sense of pride and confidence to stand up and speak; however, he doesn't, mainly because he has lost his rationality and Ralph is the only one who still has it. The whole novel was really intense especially when I remembered that the people on the island acting as savages were children! I learned that when put in tough situations, one may end up shedding his or her civilized self in order to survive. would recommend this book to anyone who's around seventh grade and up. The vocabulary isn't too difficult and as long as you pay attention while reading, it isn't that hard to understand what is going on.

[Cindy]

Cindy Lo, #20
Period 1

From the novel, readers learn that without society to keep us in line, people are able to disregard all the accepted rules of society. However, in the presence of a person with superiority, the savageness is contained. At the end of Lord of the Flies, I felt relieved. When both Simon and Piggy are dead, and Ralph is being hunted down, I was shocked to see the extent of the boys’ savagery. Although I was surprised learn about the naval officer, I was relieved when Jack and his hunters were silenced by the appearance of an adult. Overall, I really enjoyed the book. I was met with unexpected events, suspense, and the satisfying use of symbolism throughout the novel. I feel that Golding was able to bring out the novel's full potential through the contrasting foil characters. I would recommend this book to friends and family who haven't read this book yet.

[Justin]

Justin Chen #5
Period 3
The ending of the book was an anticlimax for me. All the dramatic and gruesome death foreshadowed a third, final death. I was expecting a final confrontation between Jack and Ralph symbolizing logic v.s. savagery. Furthermore, the boys sudden change of heart at the end of the book seemed to unreal and fake. However, it is interesting to speculate why Golding had inserted the rescue right after Piggy's death. I think Golding had a final hidden theme: knowledge and reason will always come up on top, as shown with the arrival of the officer. As for recommendations, I would recommend this book to anyone interested. One of the core themes I feel, is the theme of evil and darkness in each and every person, bound by civilization.

[Dexter]

Dexter Lin #19
Period 1
Although I had pretty much expected that the stranded boys would get rescued, I felt disappointment when the "savages" were privileged enough to leave and live the rest of their lives, especially Jack and Roger. What surprised me, though, was the scene when the inhumanity immediately diminished when they stumbled across the militant officer. It warmed my heart to see Jack finally understand that he was not fit to be leader, as he tried to speak up to the officer, but couldn't. I was truly glad to see Ralph the one who walked forward, instead of foolish Jack. The entire novel never ceased to put pressure and suspense on the occurring events and conflicts, which amplified the novel's overall quality. I would definitely suggest it to a friend, simply because it includes dramatic sequences that would not cease to amaze. This novel not only taught me that evil lies within all beings, but also to resist the tantalizing temptation that haunts everyday life.

[Kyle]

Kyle Trieu #29
Period 3

I thought the ending of the novel was a bit unsatisfying. Sure, the boys were finally in sight of rescue, but I felt as if the novel should have continued on a little and explained to the readers how the boys went back and coped with "regular" surroundings and how they would fit back in to society. Just having the boys see a naval officer after all the troubles they went through made the ending weak in my opinion. More could have been done to elaborate on the scene, at the very least. However, even though I found the ending not up to par, I think that Lord of the Flies was an excellent novel in whole. It represented how people acted when unchecked by a system of authority. It showed me that as much as people may dislike society the way it is, it's like that for a reason. The troubles that the boys were placed in and the ways they dealt with these problems were also very eye-opening. They reminded me of what the most important things to do were if one got lost and stranded with no way to contact others.

I would probably recommend this book to my colleagues in Boy Scouts, for they could learn a great deal about surviving with what nature provides. The Boy Scouts in my troop have learnt all about these situations and they should know what to do in a theoretical situation. However, reading this novel and seeing how survival techniques could be applied in a real life scenario could be very beneficial to them.

After reading Lord of the Flies, I learned that society is strict for a reason. If a government was not strict its citizens, things could become chaotic. The result would be something far worse than what the governing system offered. Another thing to be gained from this novel is that one should always try to be rational and logical. Once those two things are thrown out the window, other unpleasant thoughts begin to rise. This novel has many life lessons embedded in its pages.

[Andrew]

Andrew Kwang, #15
Period 1

I feel very ambivalent towards the ending of Lord of the Flies. True, it is inferred that the remaining people who are alive get off the island, there is still something that doesn't satisfy the reader. Piggy and Simon are still dead, and the island is left in a war-torn state. It's similar to the people who go fight in World War II. In the end, the people who are still alive return home, yet some still have war traumas. Same concept in Lord of the Flies. I was taken aback but happy when I saw the naval officer finally arrive, yet the boys' overall savagery throughout the entire plot of the story is too much to consider it a happy ending or a sad ending. I learned from this story that we need law and order in our lives in order to restrain ourselves, and I would recommend this book to anyone.

[Kevin]

Kevin Chang #2
Period 1
The ending of the book was a kind of a surprise to me. When Ralph comes running out of the jungle, I would expect him to be hunted down and murdered. It comes as a surprise that there is a Navy officer there on the beach watching this unrealistic scene unfold in front of him. I wish though, that only Ralph with Sam and Eric could be taken off the island, and leave the Group of savages behind. They deserve it and they think they can handle it themselves too anyway. I was also surprised that when Ralph told the twins his hiding spot, the just gave it away the next day when only being hut a little. In my opinion, a true friend would have held your secret until death. Overall, the novel shows that there is a seed of evil in every human and it only needs to be in the right conditions to sprout and grow into catastrophe. I would suggest this book to anybody that could understand the nature of human evil and what actions are deemed bad. Otherwise, this would just be another action survival typical Island story.

[Aleksa]

Aleksa Cover #11
Period 3
The ending of Lord of the Flies wasn't as a great as I thought it would be. Although it was a good book,it wasn't very satisfied with its ending,I felt like the ending happened to fast, all of a sudden Jack is searching for Ralph,the island is on fire,and then they just got rescued, I think things should have moved a bit slower. The fact that all the boys simply snapped back into the reality of things just by seeing an adult didn't really make a good ending.

Although the ending did not meet up to my standards,the overall novel was great. I would recommend it to my brother,church friends, and teammates. I believe they would able to learn how fast people can change, I think this would help them stay true to themselves even in the most difficult times.


After reading,Lord of the Flies, I learned that evil is embedded in us from the moment we are born,it just takes certain events to make us snap and let the evil come out.

[Judy]

I think the ending is somewhat agreeable because I did hope that the boys would get saved but I also wanted Jack to get punished in some way and realize that Ralph was correct all along. The ending doesnt really imply that; it only shows his return of innocence. Although the boys do get saved, I still feel not fully satisfied because Simon and Piggy, who actually stuck to their senses and was always trying to maintain civilization. One lesson i learned in this stry is that civilization is very crucial in our society because it helps us keep the savagery inside us. i would recommend this book to anyone because it teaches valuable lessons through symbols and has alot of allusions and many other motif and other literary devices to think about.

Judy Kim #14
Period 1

[Alison]

For me, the ending of The Lord of the Flies was abrupt and unanticipated. I was so caught up in Jack’s intense hunt for Ralph that the sudden appearance of an adult was a shocking reminder for me as well as the boys that civilization still existed outside of the island. Jack’s total transformation from a civilized person to a animal-like creature left me feeling pretty hopeless about the boys’ situation throughout the novel because I had predicted that several other boys would also find the lure of killing appealing and follow in Jack’s footsteps. With this story, Golding paints a brutal yet realistic picture of the innate evilness in mankind. It saddens me that Golding saw this within his own people, but reading the novel allowed me to better appreciate the civilization and resources that I have. While the optimistic side of me hopes that this sort of situation will never happen, I feel like humans will instinctively revert to their animalistic senses and engage in the same “survival of the fittest” power struggle depicted in The Lord of the Flies if they are placed in the same circumstances. Luckily for the boys in the novel, Ralph retains his morals and resists the temptations of savagery, but it is unfortunate that he is the lone person at the end of the novel to be considered civilized.

I would recommend this book to anyone, especially to high school students and young adults. Nowadays, we are so fascinated with material things that we can take our resources (and civilization!) for granted. By reading about the loss of morality within a group of young children who are supposed to represent innocence, maybe we can learn to value what we have and recognize that there might be a tinge of evilness inside us that we should learn to control.

Alison Chang, #2
Period 3

[Rebecca]

Rebecca Lim
#18
Period 1

To be honest, I was pretty disappointed in the book. Someone told me that there would a lot of violence such ad cannibalism, but there was no cannibalism or as much gruesome details as I thought there would be. However, some of the symbols and little details on the book got me thinking and I found that interesting. Also, I did not want Jack and the over savages to be rescued and saved. Furthermore, I wish there was an epilogue of some sort telling us how the boys cope with the events that took place on the island.

Overall, I enjoyed reading the book. However, there were a few things I was not satisfied with including the vague ending.

[Everett]

Everett Sheu, #26
Per. 1

I found myself to be rather shocked by just how savage the boys had become. I was rather disappointed with the ending of the Lord of the Flies. Jack and his savages seem to be pardoned despite having taken two lives and performed torture on Samneric. However Golding's novel as a whole was a very enjoyable experience. It was as if I had watched the events unfold on the island myself rather than through words on bound paper. I recommend this book to anybody that is in high school. Anybody younger than that might not be mature enough to appreciate the beauty of the writing. From this book, I learned about the true nature of man. I learned about the evil people are naturally born with and its cage - society.