Lord of the Flies
by William Golding
Well, my brother’s going to hate my review on this one. He absolutely loves this book, and even credits it as one of the few that fueled his continued love of reading as a teenager. Many people share this opinion. It’s a classic that’s required reading in many a high school. My brother and I went to the same high school, but we do not share the same opinion on what I believe to be a damaging, horrifically upsetting book.
A group of boys are stranded on an island, and as they try to survive, human nature takes over and makes them turn on each other. It’s supposed to be deep and poignant, sparking a debate of whether or not human nature is good and experience turns people bad, or if the innocent cherubs on the island had “latent maniacal tendencies”** inside them from birth. It’s supposed to be tragic in a way that makes you think, “Oh, those poor boys! I’m affected by this book!” Well, I was certainly affected, and not in a good way.
To me, it wasn’t deep or poignant. It didn’t spark any debate within me. I wish I’d never read it. Life is hard and upsetting enough, without reading about the corruption of children. Everyone will find out the world is a terrible place in his or her own time, and develop a thin or thick layer of cynicism. No one needs assistance from William Golding.
**quote from the film Miracle on 34th Street**
A group of boys are stranded on an island, and as they try to survive, human nature takes over and makes them turn on each other. It’s supposed to be deep and poignant, sparking a debate of whether or not human nature is good and experience turns people bad, or if the innocent cherubs on the island had “latent maniacal tendencies”** inside them from birth. It’s supposed to be tragic in a way that makes you think, “Oh, those poor boys! I’m affected by this book!” Well, I was certainly affected, and not in a good way.
To me, it wasn’t deep or poignant. It didn’t spark any debate within me. I wish I’d never read it. Life is hard and upsetting enough, without reading about the corruption of children. Everyone will find out the world is a terrible place in his or her own time, and develop a thin or thick layer of cynicism. No one needs assistance from William Golding.
**quote from the film Miracle on 34th Street**