Lord of the Flies: A Christian Response
When British boys are stranded alone on an island, can they govern themselves?
Reading Level: Teens, ages 12 and up
Recommended For: Teens, ages 15 and up
Summary of The Lord of the Flies
A plane crashes on a deserted island in the middle of nowhere. Pilot? Killed in the crash? Passengers? A group of boys, ranging in age from fairly young (age 6 or so?) to young teens. Adults? None. The boys (all British) were being evacuated during war-time, although why they’re in the middle of the Pacific is never really explained. Presumably, as good British boys in the mid-20th-century, they must have grown up reading the likes of Robinson Crusoe along with plenty of other island stories. As all good British boys would know to do, they meet as a group and discuss some priorities, namely: how do we stay civilized on this island? What do we need to pursue order?
From the beginning, it’s clear that some boys have a better grasp of civilization, order, good governance (both self-governance and that of others), and essential priorities required to sustain life (i.e. food and shelter along with a plan to signal for rescue). It’s also clear straightaway that some boys do NOT have this same grasp. Alliances are made, lines are drawn in the not-just-proverbial sand, and tension steadily grows. Two thirds through the book, the reader instinctively knows that this is not going to end well (if he or she hasn’t already come to that conclusion).
The Lord of the Flies: Brilliant
The Lord of the Flies is a brilliant book (except for the very last few pages). And, it’s safe to say it is the literary forerunner of many popular teen books and series today, not least of which include The Hunger Games series and The Maze Runner series. What makes this book so good? Golding is a master of understatement and suspense. I’ve taught many 10th graders who read this as their summer reading; rarely does a student come to school in August without an Opinion on this book. And yet, the reading demands thought: what exactly happens to the boy with the scar/birthmark on his face? Why is Jack acting that way? What would I do in a similar situation?
As Christians, we can mine this book for gold. Rarely do books these days show us human nature in all its depravity without wallowing in that depravity, excusing it, or pandering to the audience. Golding isn’t graphic; he doesn’t give us such gruesome details that we get caught up in blood and guts, missing the main point. He’s not funny or silly, either. In sparse text, he manages to communicate far more than modern series that spawn 5 or 6 hefty tomes: the enemy is within. The enemy is our sin nature and Satan himself. On our own, we cannot save ourselves. We are just like Ralph, stuck on that island, fighting a desperate fight for the good, true, and beautiful, but without hope save in an outside Rescuer.
The Lord of the Flies: How I Teach It
Since this is often a summer reading choice for my students (including my own three children this coming year!), it’s what we start the year off discussing. The Lord of the Flies provides a terrific primer on key literary elements like foreshadowing, symbolism, theme, etc. While obvious, these elements don’t take away from the reading experience. After reviewing key elements as a refresher course, we discuss worldview and the general narrative thread of Scripture (creation-fall-redemption). The Lord of the Flies, once again, is easy: when the boys arrive on the island, that’s creation. Most of the book reveals the fall and its effects, showing that mankind needs deliverance. The rescue at the end reminds us of redemption. Thankfully, our redemption is not like the boys’: our Rescuer fully understands what we’ve gone through and has suffered on our behalf. To my thinking, this is the weak link in Golding’s book: his rescuer is flippant and cavalier. We’re left wondering if Ralph really will be okay, will he get over this experience?
Essay options abound: Compare/contrast this book with another, modern dystopian book (The Maze Runner and The Hunger Games are both perfect choices here). Who, or what, is the beast (metaphorically, as well as literally)? Why a pig’s head for the “Lord of the Flies”? Why does Golding use that as the title of the book? Discuss the glasses: their symbolism, role in the plot, why Piggy has them and no one else, etc. These are all great essay choices to encourage students to analyze or discuss in light of a biblical worldview.
In short, The Lord of the Flies is a solid choice for high school students to read and discuss, particularly in light of a biblical worldview. However, I’d save this book for 10th grade and up. Much younger and students get so caught up in the plot that they miss the forest for the trees; students need enough maturity to read with some objective distance.
Considerations:
Violence: there’s a reason some people won’t read this book (or are afraid to). In light of today’s movies and books, the violence in this book isn’t extreme (in terms of being graphic). But there are some troubling scenes, and some boys do die. Images: Thankfully, there are no pictures! Some scenes are quite gruesome, though. Racism: The boys frequently refer to “savages” disparagingly. Only once do they mention “Indians,” but, since they are comparing British ways of life to “savages,” it’s partly true that anyone not British is a savage in their minds (i.e. the French might be deemed “savages”). Worth talking through that distinction with your students.Discuss: Consider talking through this “real life” Lord of the Flies experience: was Golding wrong in his predictions of what human nature would do if left unattended? Do we need outside authority? Can we govern ourselves?
Overall Rating: 4
Literary/Artistic Rating: 4.5Worldview Rating: 3.5
Recommended Reading from Redeemed Reader:
A Review: Talking Over The Hunger Games, part 1A Resource: Is The Kite Runner Appropriate? (another post about assigned school reading!)A Resource: 13 Books for 13 Year Old Boys (and older!)
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