Readers will be caught up in the emotional tension as they read the turmoil and ups and downs in William Goldberg’s Lord Of The Flies. Despite being stranded on an isolated island, a group of young adolescent boys attempt to keep any semblance of sanity they can. But while they try and keep order among their group, they realize that they may not be alone on the island. Hysteria and fear arise within the group and they slowly fall apart, succumbing to the darkest part of themselves.
Piggy’s continuous optimism and wisdom is something to be admired of a twelve year old boy, and often he is the only one holding the group together. The symbolism of the conch shell helps show how law and order is being kept throughout the story. The setting of a deserted island help set the mood for the entire book, giving the reader a feeling that not everything is as it seems.
Foreshadowing in the Lord Of The Flies is subtle but ingenious, giving the reader just enough clues to what is truly going on, but keeping the reader involved the entire time. The plot thickens and thins in just the right places, keeping the reader emotionally invested in the story and bringing true tension to the story. The antagonist of the story is a subtle but deadly foe, forcing the boys to become something they aren’t in order to survive.
Most teens would enjoy the bitter truth behind this book, as well as the author’s take on humanity and civility. The way Golding portrays his characters helps readers relate to them and sympathize with them the entire time. This is a highly recommended book for anyone who wishes to explore how humanity changes in the face of adversary.