Ones Inner Savage free essay sample

No matter what, if people are placed in the right circumstances their inner self will come out. In the book, Lord of the Flies, the concept follows a group of British boys who are stranded on a deserted island. The plot of the book is how the boys survive on this deserted island. The author, Golding, uses the inner beast as the main symbol that at some point overcomes all of the boys as they live on the island. He even uses war paint through the novel as something that covers their inner beast that represents the act of covering up the beast or in the least trying to hide it. The symbol of the beast is used to represent inner savagery, a quality that all people have inside of them. It is not unusual for people to hide, (war paint) their real feelings in a confrontational situations. They are afraid someone might not like their thoughts, which could make them feel a shamed. In Golding’s Lord of the Flies, he uses the symbol of the beast throughout the book to represent 0ones inner self, otherwise known as everyone’s inner savage. For example; while the boys are killing Simon, it elaborates on the explanation of the beast. Jack forms a circle and starts to chant as the other boys follow suit. They form a giant circle in which they lose their rational selves to the group mentality. The group follows the lead and chats, â€Å"Kill the beast! Spill his blood! There was a throb and stamp of a single organism kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood! Now out of terror rose another desire, thick, urgent, and blind. † (152) unquestionably, this is a major moment. This is precisely what inner savagery is, the sheer impulse of man in its true primal state. The boys did not think about what they were doing, they just acted to an outside force in which they could not comprehend. Yet again, Golding uses the beast when the boys have a reenactment of killing a pig. Robert explained how he threw a spear at the rest of the boys when Jack orders them to make a circle around Robert. â€Å"Ralph entered the play and everybody laughed presently they were all jabbing at Robert who made mock rushes. Jack shouted make a ring! The circle moved in and around as Robert squealed in mock terror then in real pain. Ow! Stop it! You’re hurting! . . . Hold em! They got his arms and legs. Ralph carried away by sudden thick of excitement grabbed Eric’s spear and jabbed Robert with it. Robert was screaming and struggling. The chant rose ritually as at the last moment of dance or a hunt kill the pig, cut the throat, bash it in. † (114) In view of this, it is a turning point in because it is the first time when the beast really shows itself within the boys themselves. Once again, the boys lose whom they are and are caught up in the moment. This is a perfect example of the mob mentality. People by their self would not participate in such a behavior, on the other hand when they are in a mob they lose who they are and follow the crowd. Not only does Golding use the beast as a symbol, he also shows that war paint is used to hide shame of the beast. To be precise, when Jack first makes his mask, Golding describes more about war paint. Jack has just got done making his first war paint mask and he absently thinks to himself. Golding says,â€Å"He knelt, holding the shell out of water. A rounded patch of sunlight fell on his face and brightness appeared in the depths of the water. He looked in astonishment, no longer at himself but at an awesome stranger. He split the water and leapt to his feet, laughing excitedly. Beside the pool of his sinewy body help up the mask that drew their eyes and appalled them. † (63) It is important to recognize what is not only the recognition of war paint used to make something new, but also, Jack sees someone other than himself in his reflection. Equally important is that when Jack raids Ralph, Golding gives an accurate description of the symbol war paint. While Jack is taking fire in his raid then when talking to Ralph he thinks about his mask. Golding writes, â€Å"Demonic figures with faces of white, red, and green rushed out howling . . . He paused and looked around. He was safe from shame or self consciousness behind the mask of his paint and could look at each of them in turn. † (141) This is a specific passage regarding war paint and the mask in general, solely because Jack fiercely explains how the mask makes him feel safe from judgment or even shame which is a notable feeling that Jacks gets while wearing paint and that shows extreme embarrassment of the inner savage. War paint completes the inner beast without the capability of the masks there cannot really be an inner savage because there is nothing to keep them from feeling shame or even regret. The symbol of the beast represents inner savage, war paint represents the hiding of one’s inner savage or the act of trying to hide it. Without one or the other, the boys could not survive simply because they are so closely related and they correspond so well. Lastly, the combination of these two symbols are always mentioned throughout the Lord of the Flies that they are the guidelines of how the reader can tell how bad the situation on the island is at all times just by simply analyzing the two symbols. The symbol of the beast and war paint are used well by Golding to show how they are part of everyone. Everyone uses them on a daily basis. We hide our inner beast in situations where we know we cannot blow our tops. We use words to cover up feelings of shame for things we have said or did. Golding wrote a master piece that when analyzed every human can relate to his imagery.