Masks in Lord of the Flies

Masks in Lord of the Flies

The Hunters’ Masks in Lord of the Flies Though a mask may simply be a shaped piece of plastic, a paper eliminated or a painted face, they all have the exact same ability to develop the sensation of liberty of responsibility. In William Golding’s, Lord of the Flies, the deserted kids go through many changes, both physically and mentally just by wearing masks. When the young boys initially get here on the island, they are unable to successfully discover and kill food; they likewise try hard to keep things civilized. As the unique advances, the young boys begin to alter. After finally wearing their masks, they are able to do the important things they weren’t able to do in the past.

Nearing completion of the novel, the kids are often using masks; they have actually morphed into something different totally. The boys on the island are innately great, the masks that they wear transforms them. When the boys first crash on the island their main objective is to protect and civilized. The kids understand that in order to make it through, they will need to consume. In order to have the proper food, they need to kill among the pigs that live in the island. Even though the kids know what they require to do to endure, they are somehow not able to hunt and capture a pig.

On the first night on the island, the boys venture off into the jungle and encounter a pig, stuck in the undergrowth of the forest. This is the ideal moment for the boys to kill the pig and make a feast. Jack raises the hunting knife, however freezes, not able to eliminate the pig “… because of the enormity of the knife coming down and cutting into living flesh; due to the fact that of the intolerable blood.” (Golding, 31) This shows that the kids are incapable of committing the act of murder– even for their own survival– without something that could assist press them to the minute of the kill.

In order to reach the minute of the killing of the pig, Jack and his hunters choose to paint their faces. Practically immediately, he starts to alter his ways, as he gazes at his reflection in the water, “… no longer at himself but at a remarkable complete stranger.” (63) Jack is finally able to be who he wants to be, without feeling ashamed. As Jack dons his new found individual, he ends up being no longer Jack Meridew the choir kid, however Jack the hunter, as” [t] he mask forced [him]” (64) The masks the boys use provide a sense of freedom, where they do not feel that they are responsible for what they might occur to do.

Right away, Jack is taken away by this as” [h] e began to dance and his laughter ended up being a blood thirsty snarling. “( 64) Now that the boys have a sense of security, they have the ability to do things that they have actually been too scared to do previously. Jack instantly takes this and utilizes it to his advantage. After finally having the ability to capture a pig and massacre it, Jack seems to have lost all control as he” [smacks] Piggy’s head” (71) for no reason at all, it was as however “… the mask was a thing on its own …” (64) Jack and the hunters feel no remorse for what they have done due to the fact that they have the ability to conceal behind these painted faces.

Their improvement continues as the young boys have actually become savages. They now only wear their masks and shreds of clothes as Jack was “… plain naked save for the paint and a belt.” (140) The hunters are now able to do things without concern, because of these masks of anonymity. These young boys no longer have to worry about the repercussions of their actions, as Jack was “… able at last to hit somebody [he] stuck his fist into Piggy’s stomach.” (71) The savages’ actions result in the deaths of 2 really essential characters.

The deaths of Simon and Piggy were both violent deaths, which were brought on by the savages themselves. In Simon’s death, the kids “… jumped on to [Simon], shouted, struck, bit, tore. There were no words, and no motions however the tearing of teeth and claws.” (135) The hunters worked as a team to eliminate what they believed was the beast. When they finally realized it was truly Simon, they reveal no regret for the death of their friend. Roger actually shows how much he’s changed with the death of Piggy. “High over head, Roger, with a sense of delirious abandonment leaned all his weight on the lever. (180) and” [t] he rock struck Piggy [with] a glancing blow.” (181) After Roger’s murderous action, Golding refers to him as the “hangman” (182 ), Roger is gone, hidden behind his brand-new found mask. No longer kids, these savages don their masks with pride and a sense of power. From the beginning, the young boys on the island were great, when their masks were on they changed into their real savage selves. With the arrival of the kids on the island, they quickly realize that they will require help to kill and hunt for food. After putting on masks of mud and clay, they start to transform.

The boys are no longer the civilized, British schoolboys that had gotten here on the island before, they are what they wish to be– totally free to be their real selves while wearing their masks. “Male is least himself when he talks in his own individual. Provide him a mask and he will tell you the truth.” (Oscar Wilde) Work Mentioned Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. Toronto: Penguin Group, 2006 Bibliography http://www. brainyquote. com/quotes/authors/ o/oscar _ wilde. html http://www. sparknotes. com/lit/flies/ http://prezi. com/tbzd4smwtpjf/lord-of-the-flies-masks-and-rituals/

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