What is ironic in Lord of the Flies? In William Golding’s novel “Lord of the Flies,” the surface story is about a group of boys stranded on an island and their struggle to survive. However, as we delve deeper into the novel, we notice a layer of irony that adds meaning and depth to the story.
What is ironic in Lord of the Flies? (Answer)
The irony in “Lord of the Flies” lies in the fact that grownups are afraid. The boys are stranded on the island without adult supervision, and they must fend for themselves. The grownups represent authority, wisdom, and responsibility. They are supposed to be able to handle difficult situations with maturity and level-headedness. However, in this novel, they fail to do so.
The adults’ inability to discuss and agree on things leads to war, which is ultimately responsible for stranding the boys on the island. If adults could have discussed and come to an agreement, there would have been no war; hence no need for the boys’ evacuation from school.
Furthermore, some of the boys try to form a civilized society on their own without any adult supervision by establishing rules and electing leaders like Ralph or Piggy, who represent democracy or intelligence. In contrast, other boys like Jack and Roger believe that strength is superior over all other traits leading them towards acts of violence when conflicts arise.
The irony here is that these children are attempting to create a society with rules and regulations when their role models – grown-ups – have failed miserably in doing so themselves.
Book quotes showing what is ironic in Lord of the Flies
Here are some quotes from the novel that illustrate the irony present in “Lord of the Flies”:
1. “We’ve got to have rules and obey them. After all, we’re not savages. We’re English, and the English are best at everything.” This quote by Jack highlights the boys’ attempts to create a civilized society on their own despite their lack of adult supervision.
2. “They talk and scream. The littluns. Even some of the others… Once Simon had decided to go along with [Jack], he had been eager to touch the spikes and excited by his own daring…”. This quote shows how even children who strive toward civilization can be easily swayed toward violence when conflict arises.
3. “The rock struck Piggy a glancing blow from chin to knee; the conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist.” The conch was an item that symbolized democracy and order on the island, but it was destroyed by violence.
4. “Ralph wept for the end of innocence, for darkness of man’s heart, and for the pull of his home.” This quote highlights how even Ralph, who represents law and order on the island, is unable to prevent violence from occurring.
5. “‘I’m scared of him,’ said Piggy, ‘and that’s why I know him. If you’re scared of someone you hate him but you can’t stop thinking about him.'” This quote shows how fear can lead people towards violent behavior even if they know it is wrong.
These quotes illustrate how Golding uses irony throughout “Lord of The Flies” to highlight how children attempt to create a functioning society without adult supervision while grown-ups fail in their role as authority figures leading to conflicts among nations, ultimately leading to life-threatening situations for those caught up in them just like those boys stranded on an island trying desperately to survive.
What is ironic about the end of the Lord of the Flies?
The irony of the end of Lord of the Flies lies in Golding’s portrayal of the naval officer. Despite being a symbol of rescue and civilization, the officer arrives on the island in his warship, which serves as a reminder of the violence and chaos that exists in the outside world. The boys, who have descended into savagery and primal instincts, are initially relieved to see him. However, it becomes evident that even though they are physically saved from their immediate danger, they are not truly rescued from their own inner darkness and capacity for evil. The presence of the naval officer highlights the stark contrast between civilization and inherent human nature, emphasizing that true salvation cannot be found solely through external forces or authority figures.
What is the irony of the fire in Lord of the Flies?
The irony of the fire in Lord of the Flies is that Jack, who initially dismisses the idea of a signal fire as stupid, later becomes obsessed with creating and controlling his own fire for cooking and hunting purposes. This shift highlights the reversal of priorities on the island, as the boys slowly devolve into savagery and abandon their chances of being rescued while ironically becoming dependent on fire for survival.
Conclusion
In conclusion, “Lord of The Flies” uses irony as a literary device throughout its pages. The story highlights how if adults could communicate effectively with one another instead of fighting wars against each other, it would lead to less conflict between nations. Conflict can lead to innocent people getting stuck in life-threatening situations, just like those children stranded on the island.