Post 5: Who, What, Where, Why and How?

1. Based on the events from the novel, do you think that we encounter corruption often in our daily lives?
2. In your opinion, is society itself accountable for the corruption that arises in the community of boys on the island?
3. Is Jack responsible for the murder that happens on the island, or is something bigger to be held accountable?
4. Do you think that the society created within this story is a metaphor for real life?
5. What is the root of the conflict that repeatedly arises between Piggy, Jack and Ralph? Can this be applied to real life?
6. Does fear have any relation to corruption?

Post 4: Corrosive Corruption

     I think that the most evident theme in the book I am reading, Lord of the Flies, is 'corruption'. It becomes evident in many parts of the book. The Google definition of the word is:

cor·rup·tion/kəˈrəpSHən/

Noun:	Dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power, typically involving bribery. The action of making someone or something morally depraved or the state of being so.
Synonyms:	depravity - decay - putrefaction - bribery - venality

     

     Corruption refers to how people act as well as how a system of people functions. It can refer to how people act morally or how people act in general. I think that there are varying degrees of corruption. An older sibling bribing a younger sibling is corruption on a very, very small level. There are cases of corruption in the world now that are of such a large level that they cannot even be explained.

     Examples of corruption can be found in many spots in my book. The most obvious involve Piggy, Jack and Ralph. In these cases, Ralph and Jack start out fighting, as the leaders, and Jack's anger gets taken out on Piggy. This is an example of corruption because Jack, as a leader, takes advantage of Piggy and treats him very poorly. When the two are together at almost any point in the book, Jack abandons all morals. This results in Piggy getting treated like dirt. The severity of the corruption slowly escalates throughout the novel.
     Lord of the Flies is a very complicated book to decipher. I am not always sure what the author is trying to communicate, but I do know that the author shows how easily corruption can be masked. It sometimes appears that everything is normal in this small community of boys. You know that some of the ways they act are wrong, but the depth to which they are wrong is shocking when you think about it. Simply the fact that this corruption could lead to the death of one of the boys is horrific. I think that the author says that corruption happens easier than you would think. The reader learns that what might look innocent on the outside could be incredibly corrupt when you look deeper, and that is not a good thing. 

Golding, William. Lord of the flies. New York: Capricorn Books, 1954. Print.

Google Definition for 'corruption'

Post 3: That's not fair!

Golding, William. Lord of the flies. New York: Capricorn Books, 1954. Print. 

 
     One situation of injustice that I found in my novel is when some of the boys let the fire go out. The fire is important to everyone because it is the only method they have of being rescued from the deserted, remote island. There are only young boys on the island, and they decided among themselves who would do which jobs. They boys who kept the fire going let it go out. There is conflict between the boys because of this. 

The injustice that I see here is in the fact that everyone was negatively affected because of the bad decision of a few of the boys. 

 
     I, as the reader, can draw from this the lesson that we need to think before we act. I think that this runs deeper than the cliché. It can take on a meaning that isn't used very often. This meaning is: think before you act because you can't ever be fully aware of how it will affect others. In this situation, all of the boys were not rescued when they could have been. In retrospect, their small decision affected the whole group in ways that no one would have expected. I think that you can draw from this that justice is doing what is right for everybody, not necessarily what is equal. I think that the main character, Ralph, can draw from this is that people will never live up to your expectations. They are not perfect. They will not treat you as they would like to be treated. If you lend something to someone, do not expect to ever get it back. This is applicable to this situation because Ralph had just spent his day slaving at building shelters while they others let the fire go out because they were having fun.

     I think that this can be applied to real life as well. In every situation, you need to think about how others will be affected, try to do what is right for everybody and not expect others to think about these things. 

Post 2: Who will be Lord of the Flies?

Golding, William. Lord of the flies. New York: Capricorn Books, 1954. Print.

"Jack stood over him. His voice was vicious with humiliation. 'You would, would you? Fatty!' Ralph made a step forward and Jack smacked Piggy's head." (Golding 65)

    

     I think that this short quotation captures the conflict that is shown in this book. I think that the conflict is the main reason why this is such an effective book. I also think that the nature of the conflict is why it is interesting. It is centred around young boys who are trying to figure out how to get along with each other, but sometimes pride gets in the way. I also think that we can learn a lot from the conflicts these children have. In my opinion, some of the most important things we learn in life are learned from children. 

     Even though in this quote it seems like it is just a child's fight, the larger conflict that this situation leads to is much more important. It is the kind of conflict that many adults won't even face. This event really shows the nature of the conflict between the three boys. Jack is provoked by people who challenge his authority, and takes it out on weaker ones like Piggy. Ralph, although he is often frustrated by Piggy, stands up for him, but Jack cannot be stopped from harming him. The conflict then switches to be between Jack and Ralph.

     This is important because the exact situation is repeated over and over again, escalating every time. The first time that it happens, it is very mild and no one is really hurt. Every time after it is more and more damaging. Jack and Ralph cannot work together because of these conflicts, and so they shape the story. Without the pattern, the story would not be nearly as interesting. 

Post 1: Bienvenue!!

     Hello! Welcome to my blog! This is the place where everything happens. This is where I can talk for as long as I want about my favourite books, and debate all sorts of things! My posts will mostly be about science fiction, or really controversial books that provoke thought.

     I particularly like books that explore what the future may hold, and what society might look like (for example, The Hunger Games). I have also enjoyed reading books like Lord of the Flies and Romeo and Juliet. Believe it or not, they have a lot in common! I like almost anything by Margaret Peterson Haddix, and although it can be tedious I try not to hate L. M. Montgomery's work. I do think that it is good writing.
     The last two books that I read were a recipe book and Macdonald Hall by Gordon Korman (in French). I don't think that those count. Technically the last two books that I read were The Giver by Lois Lowry- still one of my favourite books- and The Hunger Games. Both of these books I have read more than four times. I still love them because I notice something different every time. They are both based in the future, and question how society works. The main characters both rebel against how their society is based and run. I will probably read them again a couple more times!
     My favourite book is hard to choose, but I would say that my favourite series is The Hunger Games. I don't 'fangirl' about them, but I like to discuss the deeper meaning in them. I think that there are many valuable lessons in any piece of good fiction.