The Beast within Ourselves At first, we are born into the world as innocent children representing the civilization in the world, but as we grow older, a savagery within us starts to reveal itself. This can be represented in the novel The Lord of the Flies by William Golding. Golding tells the story of a group of young boys who are left stranded on an island after a plane crash. The boys start off by forming a civilized group creating rules and goals to be rescued, only to become divided by one of its own members forming savagery on the island.
Goldings book gives a perspective that there is a beast that resides within every human being. I believe that there is a beast, an evil side, to every person who lives in this planet. No one is born perfect into this world. Everyone has a shadow within us and a personality that defines us. In the book, the children started to come up with civil rules on the island. The leader of the group, Ralph, was left in charge of all the people. Jack was the backup leader. Ralph and Jack had trouble getting along on the island sometimes.
Simon and Piggy, other members of the group were some of the elder ones who pitched in. Simon was a quiet boy, while Piggy was the one targeted to make fun of. As shelter and hunting become two main hings on the island, the group heads out to hunt for food. At the time, one of the littluns (the littler kids of the group) had claimed to see a beast, described as a huge snake. All the kids ignored the littlun and later that night the boy had died. Later, doubts about the beast had started to come up about it being real. Jack and Ralph also started having conflicts to which was more important; hunting or shelter.
As Jack was about to go out, Simon says, mlf you’re hunting sometimes you catch yourself feeling as if -‘… you can feel as if you’re not hunting, but – being hunted as if somethings behind you all the time in the Jungle. (p. 48). Simon was trying to show Jack that it is not a good idea to go out into the Jungle to hunt, especially if there is a beast that may be alive. From our perspective, this quote shows that whether you see the beast or not, there is always one around. The beast can be anywhere around you even when you can be less expecting it.
As time progresses, Jack becomes obsessed with hunting and the beast. He separates himself from Ralph’s group, and forms his own. Some of the members from Ralph’s group start to Join Jacks group. Jacks group becomes the savage group on the island who hunt for the pig. Jack kills a pig, and laces the head of the sow on a stick, as an offer to the Beast. Later on, Simon sees the head off the sow, half unconscious, having a conversation with the Lord of the Flies, the pigs head. “Fancy thinking the beast was something you could hunt and kill’ said the head. You knew didn’t you?
I’m part of you?… ‘l’m warning you. I’m going to get angry. DYou see? You’re not wanted. Understand? We’re going to have fun on this This quote shows us that the beast reveals himself to Simon. Simon’s conscience proves that there is a beast somewhere on the island, while the beast reassures Simon that he lies within everyone. No matter what, all of us have a beast within us. When Simon returns back to a feast held by Jack for the accomplishment of killing the pig, he is murdered. As Ralph stresses this out, Jack enjoys himself. Ralph is left with only Piggy and a pair of twins.
Jack sets out to steal Piggys glasses, which are essentlal Tor survlvlng. By ootalnlng tne glasses, Jack can sta rta Tire. “Ine cnleT led them, trotting steadily, exulting in his achievement. He was chief now in truth; and he made stabbing motions with his spear. From his left hand dangled Piggy’s broken glasses. “(pg. 1 53) By stealing Piggy’s glasses, Jack reveals the beast in him. By stealing the glasses, it shows how Jack is now in power because he can make the fire, but it also shows his Jealousy. Jack left the group, and Ralph was left with piggy, the one who had the most important item on the island.
By taking the glasses, Jack dominated. The beast can come out in any form. It can come from a person’s Jealousy or a simple killing of a pig. The beast resides everywhere in everyone, whether you In society, the “beast” within people is more noticeable. The can see it or not. beast can be seen through Jealousy and selfishness. A beast resides inside people with either good intentions or bad. One example that a beast resides in everyone is the movie “The Roommate”. In the movie, a girl named Sara moves into a college dorm, having a roommate named Rebecca.
At first Rebecca comes off as a sweet and friendly girl, only when she becomes too friendly. As suspicions rise, the men Sara talk to are soon disappearing. When Sara confronts Rebecca, Rebecca states, “l got rid of them all. For you. ” (Yahoo Voices). Rebecca shows the beast side of her through her jealously. She became incredibly Jealous to whowever Sara talked to and started to become dominating. The quote shows that she did what was good for Sara, when in eality it was for Rebecca’s own benefit. Sometimes, even the good people start to develop a beast within them.
In Jungian psychology, it is believed that ones’ negativity can take over. Jngs believe that there is a shadow that lies outside the light of consciousness and may be negative or positive. One Jung wrote, “Every man comes with a shadow, and the less it is embodied in the individuals’ conscious life, the blacker and denser it is. ” (Wikipedia). Jung psychologists show that this shadow turns a person into more than who they are. This shows that a person can be nice and that heir personality defines them, but sometimes a negative shadow takes over them. This proves that every human being has a best within them.
Mark Twain said, “Everyone is a moon, and has a dark side which he never shows to anybody. ” (Good Reads). Twain shows us that every person has an intention that is unannounced. The beast in a human being can hide anywhere, and can come out at any time. Even the good can be bad inside. Not everyone in this world is born perfect. Everyone has a flaw that makes them stand out. Jealousy, selfishness, and greed can bring out the beast within the person like in Jack and Rebecca. There are shadows which can mpact a person; a good person can be influenced by negativity to have a beast reside within them.
