Virtue and Vice in Lord of the Flies
Virtue and Vice: The Power of Choice
The very possibility of the boys producing virtue and vice in the same environment is an indicator that people have the power to choose what they stand for.
Lord of the Flies is a well-known book written by William Golding in 1954. It tells the story of schoolboys who have been evacuated from their homes in Britain to reach a place of safety, but instead, they crash-land on an island. They start by making rules, attempting civilization, building shelters, and holding assemblies. However, as time goes by, savagery, violence, bloodthirst, and dictatorship take over. This causes the boys to split into two groups. The very possibility of the boys producing virtue and vice in the same environment is an indicator that people have the power to choose what they stand for.
The Conflict of Two Tribes
Jack’s Tribe: The Choice of Vice
On one hand, there is Jack’s tribe, where the majority of the boys have chosen to stand. His tribe focuses on:
- Hunting and feasting
- Enjoying their time on the island
- Embracing savagery
They want neither rules nor civilization; they want a dictatorship. Jack believes the only way to survive is by him holding all the power. The boys support this; they aren't forced to follow him, it is their choice. Although their environment is defined by savagery and composed of anger, bloodthirst, and violence, Jack produces vices.
Ralph’s Group: The Pursuit of Virtue
On the other hand, we have Ralph, Piggy, Simon, and Samneric. While the majority of the boys on the island have aligned themselves with the "savage" tribe, and with Piggy and Simon gone, Ralph is left to represent the "civilized" tribe on his own. These boys had the power to choose whom to stand for. Ralph’s group is dedicated to:
- Getting rescued
- Building shelters
- Maintaining civilization
They try to establish civilization in their own way, but it does not work very well. Ralph produces virtue.
Conclusion: From Order to Chaos
In conclusion, everything starts with order but ends in chaos. When the boys split up, they have the power to choose what they stand for, which creates both virtue and vice within the same environment. Jack produces vice, and Ralph produces virtue.