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adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Violence, Murder, Abandonment
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I reread Lord of the Flies of my own free will this time—unlike in high school, when it was forced upon us as part of some “critical thinking and writing” curriculum that mostly left me annoyed and disengaged. Back then, the symbolism felt heavy-handed and the analysis felt like a chore.
But reading it again as an adult? A completely different experience.
Now I get why we spent so much time picking apart the plot, the characters, and the message. The book is dense in ideas but still accessible, and this time, I found the pacing incredibly engaging. The tension builds fast, the intensity never lets up, and I was constantly eager to see what would happen next—even though I knew what was coming.
What really stood out was how complex the characters are. There’s no clear hero or villain here—just kids shaped (and shattered) by fear, power, and the brutal freedom of lawlessness. The themes hit harder now: the fragility of societal norms, the construction of authority, the struggle for identity, and the warped lens of social perception.
The character development is a wild ride that often had me thinking, “I wouldn’t do that…” But would I? Would any of us, really, in that situation?
Lord of the Flies isn’t just about boys on an island—it’s about what happens when civilization is stripped away and we’re left with nothing but the raw materials of who we are. This re-read reminded me that some books demand time and life experience to fully appreciate.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Fatphobia, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This story is an interesting thought experiment. I don't necessarily agree that humans are hard-wired to descend into tribalism and mayhem when there's a lack of structure or accountability. But when someone like Jack is involved , things can get ugly. The tendency for horrible people to create their own army by weaponizing the fear and anger of others is a legitimate threat to any society. There's a lot of vivid imagery in this novel, both beautiful and horrific. Overall I enjoyed this book, especially the last chapter.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Fatphobia
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Fatphobia, Murder
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
When I read this book in 2002 (aged 16), I wrote down that I was very impressed by it. I couldn't stop reading because the author wrote so well. The book pulls you in when you read about the children on the island and how they slowly derange into evil. In the present (2025), I still remember the feeling of horror while reading it; it did leave that strong an impression. Children can be very mean to each other, and Lord of the Flies builds on and expands this concept in a way that feels very believable. So much so, that this has become a widespread trope. Researchers have actually conducted multiple experiments with groups of isolated young boys to see if they would exhibit similar behaviour. The good news for humanity is that they did not, not even when incentives for mean behaviour were introduced. The children always started to work together. I always keep this in mind when I read something about Lord of the Flies or the 'dark side of children' trope.
The following is a shortened and updated version of my 2002 book report, which contains spoilers:
Abstract
A group of English schoolboys travelled with an airplane. It crashed above the ocean, fortunately just above an uninhabited island. Two of the boys, Ralph and a boy nicknames Piggy, went to explore the environment. Ralph found a conch on the shore that could be used as a trumpet and he blew in it. It sounded a loud and clear note. The other children, all of whom survived the crash, came to him, attracted to the sound. The children didn't know what to do. They choose Ralph as their leader, because he had gathered them with the conch trumpet. A meeting was called. During the meeting the one who was speaking held the shell. This became a rule from that time onwards. They first ascertained that there were no adults at the island. The pilot who had flown the airplane must not have survived the crash. Ralph convinced the boys that it was of utmost importance to light a fire, at a high place. When a ship would pass by, the people at the ship could see the fire and come to save them. After that they divided the tasks amongst them. They appointed a fire guard, a group of boys would go hunting for meat under the leadership of a boy called Jack, others would go search for fruit, and a fourth group would build huts as a shelter.
In the end, little was realised. Many children preferred playing above working and they did not see why they should do their duties. Only the boys who went hunting did what they should do. They even began to like the hunting.
In a meeting, they talk about the fear for 'the beast', that a little boy in the beginning dreamed and talked about. When it was dark, the twins saw a dead airman in a parachute landing and they ran away scared, thinking that it was the beast.
In that meeting, Jack tried to take over as a leader, but he was not voted for. After that, he decided that he wanted his own tribe and he took several boys with him.
Soon the differences between the boys come to light. Ralph is more rational than Jack: he thinks things out carefully and does not want to exert power. Jack does, and attracts more and more boys to his group. He slowly evolves into a dictator.
On day, the boys from Jack's group hunted a pig. They enjoyed seeing the pig being in pain and exhausting itself. After killing it, they severed the head and put it on the end of a pole that they erected at the edge of the forest. Soon, it began to rot and flies gathered round it. For the boys of the hunting group, this pig head became their symbol. They gathered around Jack, their self appointed leader.
The next morning, Simon found the body of the pilot. He understood that it must have been the beast. In the evening, the boys of the hunting group had meat. They had painted themselves with mud and so, adorned like savages, went to perform a celebration dance. Simon arrived and wanted to share the truth about the beast, but the dance became violent and Simon was killed.
During the night, Jack stole Piggy's glasses, which were necessary to make fire. Ralph and Piggy went to the fort of Jack's boys to demand that the glasses would be returned. Roger threw a big rock that knocked Piggy into the sea and killed him. Sam and Eric were captured by the hunters and Ralph was chased away.
Ralph hid in the jungle, but heard from Sam and Eric that he was going to be hunted the next morning. He waked from the sound of the hunters, who tried to set fire to the area and he ran away in terror. Desperately, he tried to think rationally, but found it almost impossible. He ran to the beach, where he stumbled. Instead of the death blows he expected, he looked up to a Royal Navy officer who had seen the smoke of the burning woods and came to recue them. The officer was surprised to hear that two boys were dead. He did not understand the full horror of the island.
Characters
The principle characters are Ralph, Piggy and Jack. Simon, Roger and the twins Sam and Eric are side characters.
Ralph
He is a handsome 12 year old boy, athletic and with blond hair. He is kind and has great social skills, but he does not have exceptional intelligence or imagination. He has a clear image of decency and civilisation. The other children feel safe when they are around him. Ralph needed Piggy's ability to think to survive. During the story, he develops respect and affection for Piggy.
Piggy
He is an overweight and asthmatic boy with glasses. His mother and father are gone and he lived with his aunt in a sweet shop. Piggy is a nickname, but his real name is never revealed in the book. He has a certain disinclination for manual labour and is an outsider of the group. However, he is probably the most intelligent boy of the island. Ralph has great social skills and Piggy is intelligent. This way, the boys can support each other. They represent civilisation and reason on the island.
Jack Merridew
Jack is an aggressive and arrogant boy with red hair. He is the leader of the hunters and later the chief of the savages. Golding clearly intended for the readers to dislike him. Every action he takes is not based at logic, but just at wanting it because he is the leader of his boys. He sees the whole experience on the island as a game revolving around power. He has no empathy and he cannot think about anyone but himself. At the end of the book, Jack acts like an innocent boy again; the presence of an adult prompts him back in his role of little boy.
Symbolism and metaphors
The story contains many metaphors and objects with a symbolic meaning. I will name a few.
The following is a shortened and updated version of my 2002 book report, which contains spoilers:
Abstract
A group of English schoolboys travelled with an airplane. It crashed above the ocean, fortunately just above an uninhabited island. Two of the boys, Ralph and a boy nicknames Piggy, went to explore the environment. Ralph found a conch on the shore that could be used as a trumpet and he blew in it. It sounded a loud and clear note. The other children, all of whom survived the crash, came to him, attracted to the sound. The children didn't know what to do. They choose Ralph as their leader, because he had gathered them with the conch trumpet. A meeting was called. During the meeting the one who was speaking held the shell. This became a rule from that time onwards. They first ascertained that there were no adults at the island. The pilot who had flown the airplane must not have survived the crash. Ralph convinced the boys that it was of utmost importance to light a fire, at a high place. When a ship would pass by, the people at the ship could see the fire and come to save them. After that they divided the tasks amongst them. They appointed a fire guard, a group of boys would go hunting for meat under the leadership of a boy called Jack, others would go search for fruit, and a fourth group would build huts as a shelter.
In the end, little was realised. Many children preferred playing above working and they did not see why they should do their duties. Only the boys who went hunting did what they should do. They even began to like the hunting.
In a meeting, they talk about the fear for 'the beast', that a little boy in the beginning dreamed and talked about. When it was dark, the twins saw a dead airman in a parachute landing and they ran away scared, thinking that it was the beast.
In that meeting, Jack tried to take over as a leader, but he was not voted for. After that, he decided that he wanted his own tribe and he took several boys with him.
Soon the differences between the boys come to light. Ralph is more rational than Jack: he thinks things out carefully and does not want to exert power. Jack does, and attracts more and more boys to his group. He slowly evolves into a dictator.
On day, the boys from Jack's group hunted a pig. They enjoyed seeing the pig being in pain and exhausting itself. After killing it, they severed the head and put it on the end of a pole that they erected at the edge of the forest. Soon, it began to rot and flies gathered round it. For the boys of the hunting group, this pig head became their symbol. They gathered around Jack, their self appointed leader.
The next morning, Simon found the body of the pilot. He understood that it must have been the beast. In the evening, the boys of the hunting group had meat. They had painted themselves with mud and so, adorned like savages, went to perform a celebration dance. Simon arrived and wanted to share the truth about the beast, but the dance became violent and Simon was killed.
During the night, Jack stole Piggy's glasses, which were necessary to make fire. Ralph and Piggy went to the fort of Jack's boys to demand that the glasses would be returned. Roger threw a big rock that knocked Piggy into the sea and killed him. Sam and Eric were captured by the hunters and Ralph was chased away.
Ralph hid in the jungle, but heard from Sam and Eric that he was going to be hunted the next morning. He waked from the sound of the hunters, who tried to set fire to the area and he ran away in terror. Desperately, he tried to think rationally, but found it almost impossible. He ran to the beach, where he stumbled. Instead of the death blows he expected, he looked up to a Royal Navy officer who had seen the smoke of the burning woods and came to recue them. The officer was surprised to hear that two boys were dead. He did not understand the full horror of the island.
Characters
The principle characters are Ralph, Piggy and Jack. Simon, Roger and the twins Sam and Eric are side characters.
Ralph
He is a handsome 12 year old boy, athletic and with blond hair. He is kind and has great social skills, but he does not have exceptional intelligence or imagination. He has a clear image of decency and civilisation. The other children feel safe when they are around him. Ralph needed Piggy's ability to think to survive. During the story, he develops respect and affection for Piggy.
Piggy
He is an overweight and asthmatic boy with glasses. His mother and father are gone and he lived with his aunt in a sweet shop. Piggy is a nickname, but his real name is never revealed in the book. He has a certain disinclination for manual labour and is an outsider of the group. However, he is probably the most intelligent boy of the island. Ralph has great social skills and Piggy is intelligent. This way, the boys can support each other. They represent civilisation and reason on the island.
Jack Merridew
Jack is an aggressive and arrogant boy with red hair. He is the leader of the hunters and later the chief of the savages. Golding clearly intended for the readers to dislike him. Every action he takes is not based at logic, but just at wanting it because he is the leader of his boys. He sees the whole experience on the island as a game revolving around power. He has no empathy and he cannot think about anyone but himself. At the end of the book, Jack acts like an innocent boy again; the presence of an adult prompts him back in his role of little boy.
Symbolism and metaphors
The story contains many metaphors and objects with a symbolic meaning. I will name a few.
- The island: Firstly, the island itself could be compared to the Garden of Eden. The boys lose their innocence on this island. The savage instincts surfacing would be the serpent. One could also see the island as a metaphor for the Cold War that was going on when Golding wrote the book. In that case, the island would represent the world, the boys humanity, and two groups the fight between good and evil.
- The title: 'Lord of the Flies' is about the first time that the boys are experiencing their hunting instincts: when they are hunting a pig and slowly exhausting it just for the fun of killing. They put the pig's head on the end of a pole. Flies invade it, but the pig keeps smirking. It looks as if it is laughing at them because they let their instincts overrule them - they cannot think properly anymore. The pig's head is the Lord of the Flies. It represents evil and the hunters serve it.
- Objects: Finally, many objects have a symbolic meaning. Ralph's conch represents democracy, decency and the voice of reason. The use of itself beyond being a beautiful object is limited, but it is worth much to the boys because of what it represents. Piggy's glasses symbolise fire, without which they cannot be rescued or cook the meat which Jack provides. Furthermore, the ability to make fire is something which sets human beings apart from animals. That is why the glasses do not only symbolise fire, but also knowledge, rationality and dominion over primitive instincts. The beast represents the capacity of evil and wrongdoing. It must be served and accommodated, so the Lord of the Flies becomes its shrine. The pig's head is representative for the beast. It is a shrine for it and stands for evil or the devil. Negative feelings, such as fear, anger, instinctive feelings and chaos, are tied to the beast and its shrine.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Violence
Moderate: Bullying, Fatphobia, Murder
Minor: War
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
For someone who loves classic literature, Lord of the Flies has always been an interesting case to me. I was familiar with the story and the movie adaptations but I never felt a particular need to read the novel. Nor was I ever made to read it for school. My relationship with the book was peculiar: I knew it existed, I found its plot quite amusing and yet I never sought it out - until I saw it on my university's library.
Truth be said, I'm actually happy I got to read this book at an older age instead of when I was younger. And I'm also happy I got to read it at my own will instead of being made to read it for a school assignment. Had I been pressured to read it, I would definitely end up hating it and I can totally see why many people developed a dislike for it, if school assigned it to them.
The story was bizarre in terms of pacing. One moment everything would escalate so quickly and then it would seem like time had stopped and everything went on slowly, at the pace of a snail. And honestly, it kinda served the purpose of the book and what it felt like to stay in the island. Life would be lazy and slow or very wild.
I appreciate it when authors take their time to establish the setting of a story and Golding sure took his time to describe the island at its full glory and mystery. I liked reading about it, the descriptions of the locations were very detailed and vivid, as if I were there, sitting alongside the boys. The island was full of adventures and dangers and its dark nature was both alluring and terrifying.
The clash between civilization and nature was a theme that defines this book and has been the cause for much discourse throughout the years. How do people, especially children, behave once they find themselves in a difficult situation? Can logic prevail or will they succumb to their instincts? What is the root of "evil" and what drives people to radicalism? These are some of the questions the book attempts to answer.
I will not lie, I was interested in the boys' shift. Witnessing their change from young children who wanted to survive to blood-thirsty hunters was a hectic experience. At times, I even found myself relating to Ralph, Piggy and Simon's despair. The longer the boys stayed at the island, the more depraved they became. And that brings us again to the same question: to what extent can humans succumb to nature and how far can we go once we lose our morals?
As someone who studies psychology, this book is a perfect representation of how violence among younger ages is so common. Influence and power dynamics play a vital role. You have Jack who is arguably one of the most violent older kids in the island and his followers, the choir boys. We see that the environment is not friendly, they don't have established any rules and they don't have an adult to keep them in place. As time passed, Jack's influence started to grow, especially since Ralph's plans for rescue became futile, leading the rest of the boys to join the hunters.
I wouldn't be surprised if Golding wrote the book because wanted to find a constructive way to express his pent-up feelings for the boys he taught as a schoolteacher. You cannot convince me that some of the characters were not based on real people, I bet that Golding had his share of Ralphs, Jacks, Piggys and Rogers.
The characterisation was another interesting part of the book, one I actually enjoyed the most. Each character represented something different and yet all of them shared some similar traits. The clash between Ralph and Jack was one of the best dynamics in the story, I was always so interested in their bander. It was childish yet underneath it, there were many mature undertones regarding good vs evil, pragmatism vs idealism, rules vs freedom. The development of their rivalry was one heck of a journey. It was comical and yet tragic to see how confused Ralph was over Jack's resentment towards him and how blinded Jack became in search of validation and power. He didn't want to succumb to rules and obey Ralph while Ralph maintained an authoritative tone for the sake of organization and their potential rescue. They were two polar opposite worlds and it was really interesting to observe their differences.
The rest of the characters were interesting in their own way. Piggy was really funny yet clever and logical character (I did not appreciate the amount of fatphobic comments but considering the book's age, it was inevitable) and he was always the voice of reason. Although Ralph did not treat him well, he always believed in him. Simon really stole my heart, although he wasn't as prominent as Ralph or Jack, I was always looking forward to his scenes. He was the only kind and innocent character in this book and he really was a breath of fresh air among this chaos of fires, hunting, violence and pride. I knew what was coming since I was familiar with the story but his death still saddened me. It was just so unfair.
The descriptions were very vivid. The fight and hunting scenes felt too real at times, it was as if I could see the boys fight against each other or hunt down pigs. The scene between Simon and the pig's head was engrossing and confusing. For a moment, I couldn't understand what was happening and I almost got the chills while trying to envision it. During the last part I was on the edge of my seat, it was very intense and yet so exciting.
I will not hide behind my finger, during the middle I felt quite bored. The pacing became quite hectic, there were chapters with lots of action and then it felt like time had stopped. It served its purpose but I still felt like taking a small nap at times.
I would have also liked to see more interactions between the boys and see their development more in-depth. I know that I praised the characterisation and I stand by this. However, I feel like there was potential for something more. Some dynamics could have been explored further, like Jack and hunters'. Of course this is a matter of personal taste but instead of investing so much time in (albeit vivid) descriptions of the island, Golding could have written even more about the boys.
Although Lord of the Flies is not one of my most favourite classics, it was still a good book. I can see why it became popular, even though I think there are some better options out there to teach students about human nature and violence. I could see myself revisiting in a year or too because it truly was one hell of an experience.
Truth be said, I'm actually happy I got to read this book at an older age instead of when I was younger. And I'm also happy I got to read it at my own will instead of being made to read it for a school assignment. Had I been pressured to read it, I would definitely end up hating it and I can totally see why many people developed a dislike for it, if school assigned it to them.
The story was bizarre in terms of pacing. One moment everything would escalate so quickly and then it would seem like time had stopped and everything went on slowly, at the pace of a snail. And honestly, it kinda served the purpose of the book and what it felt like to stay in the island. Life would be lazy and slow or very wild.
I appreciate it when authors take their time to establish the setting of a story and Golding sure took his time to describe the island at its full glory and mystery. I liked reading about it, the descriptions of the locations were very detailed and vivid, as if I were there, sitting alongside the boys. The island was full of adventures and dangers and its dark nature was both alluring and terrifying.
The clash between civilization and nature was a theme that defines this book and has been the cause for much discourse throughout the years. How do people, especially children, behave once they find themselves in a difficult situation? Can logic prevail or will they succumb to their instincts? What is the root of "evil" and what drives people to radicalism? These are some of the questions the book attempts to answer.
I will not lie, I was interested in the boys' shift. Witnessing their change from young children who wanted to survive to blood-thirsty hunters was a hectic experience. At times, I even found myself relating to Ralph, Piggy and Simon's despair. The longer the boys stayed at the island, the more depraved they became. And that brings us again to the same question: to what extent can humans succumb to nature and how far can we go once we lose our morals?
As someone who studies psychology, this book is a perfect representation of how violence among younger ages is so common. Influence and power dynamics play a vital role. You have Jack who is arguably one of the most violent older kids in the island and his followers, the choir boys. We see that the environment is not friendly, they don't have established any rules and they don't have an adult to keep them in place. As time passed, Jack's influence started to grow, especially since Ralph's plans for rescue became futile, leading the rest of the boys to join the hunters.
I wouldn't be surprised if Golding wrote the book because wanted to find a constructive way to express his pent-up feelings for the boys he taught as a schoolteacher. You cannot convince me that some of the characters were not based on real people, I bet that Golding had his share of Ralphs, Jacks, Piggys and Rogers.
The characterisation was another interesting part of the book, one I actually enjoyed the most. Each character represented something different and yet all of them shared some similar traits. The clash between Ralph and Jack was one of the best dynamics in the story, I was always so interested in their bander. It was childish yet underneath it, there were many mature undertones regarding good vs evil, pragmatism vs idealism, rules vs freedom. The development of their rivalry was one heck of a journey. It was comical and yet tragic to see how confused Ralph was over Jack's resentment towards him and how blinded Jack became in search of validation and power. He didn't want to succumb to rules and obey Ralph while Ralph maintained an authoritative tone for the sake of organization and their potential rescue. They were two polar opposite worlds and it was really interesting to observe their differences.
The rest of the characters were interesting in their own way. Piggy was really funny yet clever and logical character (I did not appreciate the amount of fatphobic comments but considering the book's age, it was inevitable) and he was always the voice of reason. Although Ralph did not treat him well, he always believed in him. Simon really stole my heart, although he wasn't as prominent as Ralph or Jack, I was always looking forward to his scenes. He was the only kind and innocent character in this book and he really was a breath of fresh air among this chaos of fires, hunting, violence and pride. I knew what was coming since I was familiar with the story but his death still saddened me. It was just so unfair.
The descriptions were very vivid. The fight and hunting scenes felt too real at times, it was as if I could see the boys fight against each other or hunt down pigs. The scene between Simon and the pig's head was engrossing and confusing. For a moment, I couldn't understand what was happening and I almost got the chills while trying to envision it. During the last part I was on the edge of my seat, it was very intense and yet so exciting.
I will not hide behind my finger, during the middle I felt quite bored. The pacing became quite hectic, there were chapters with lots of action and then it felt like time had stopped. It served its purpose but I still felt like taking a small nap at times.
I would have also liked to see more interactions between the boys and see their development more in-depth. I know that I praised the characterisation and I stand by this. However, I feel like there was potential for something more. Some dynamics could have been explored further, like Jack and hunters'. Of course this is a matter of personal taste but instead of investing so much time in (albeit vivid) descriptions of the island, Golding could have written even more about the boys.
Although Lord of the Flies is not one of my most favourite classics, it was still a good book. I can see why it became popular, even though I think there are some better options out there to teach students about human nature and violence. I could see myself revisiting in a year or too because it truly was one hell of an experience.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Violence
Minor: Fatphobia, Gore
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Fatphobia, Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, War, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Death, Fatphobia, Blood, Murder
Minor: Racism, War
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Death, Fatphobia, Violence, Murder
Moderate: War