Lord of the Flies

[Treebeard's apprentice]

All I want to say about this book is that I think it is stupid. We had to read it for my English class, and it is just an obvious symbol for the "evils of the world":rolleyes: . The part I have a problem with is the ending. It is so contrived. The Navy man shows up and it just ends. Nothing is solved. I felt that reading it insulted my intelligence. What do you think?

[Bregalad]

I think this book is a classic example of how even very civillized people can regress to savages if faced with the savage isolation that those school boys face on the island. The reason I enjoy the book, is watching the slow slide of the boys into a very tribal society. The ending to me is very powerful because nothing is resolved, problems in real life are often like that. The most poignant thing about the book is that, despite all they've struggled against and all they've accomplished, and all they've tried to build, next week they'll be back in civillization, back in school, and it was all for nothing.

[IronParrot]

It's been years since I read it. I should take it up again.

[fireworks19]

I hated this book. Made me literally puke. And have nightmares. That doesn't happen often.

[mirrille]

That's interesting. In my year, we had several different English classes and they all did the same books...mostly. One class got to do Lord of the Flies but my class had to study Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood. I read Lord of the Flies in my own time to see what I was missing. Let's just say I would rather have done Lord of the Flies. It actually had a plot. It had a point. Kind of the whole "humanity is only 3 meals away from reverting to savagery" sort of thing. It's been done before, but the story is relatively believable. I wouldn't reread it though. It wasn't that special.

[Lumina]

I hated this book. Made me literally puke. And have nightmares. That doesn't happen often.

At least that shows that the book is powerful.

Nothing is solved.

That's the point.

Lord of the Flies is one of the great novels of the twentieth century.

[CardenIAntauraNauco]

Fortunately,or perhaps unfortunately I have never had the opportunity,or obligation respectively to read it... But I have heard both opinions I say its a matter of taste. I personally would probably enjoy it as much as I enjoy the mechanics of chewing (note the probably) simply because it is set in the modern era and I like a book with a definite resolution. But simply because so many people read it and for its ,from what I've heard, philisophical value it would be considered a great book of this, or last rather century.

[Lis Kester]

I read this book when I was a kid & HATED it. Then tried it again recently & discovered that while I still hated it, I also loved it. Isn't that weird? It's such a really terrible book - not the way it's written, just all the stuff that's in it - but it's got a lot of truth, and truth isn't always something you want to take home & snuggle up to.

[Finglas]

I think that English teachers are just mocking Tolkien fans by making us read it. Lord of the Ring/ Lord of the Flies:mad:

[afro-elf]

Bregalad

My thoughts exactly!

[Bregalad]

Finglas writes:

I think that English teachers are just mocking Tolkien fans by making us read it. Lord of the Ring/ Lord of the Flies
At least it isn't "Lord of the Dance" !!:p

[FrodoFriend]

I can't believe you people. Lord of the Flies is such a great book. Simon's conversation with the pig's head . . . wow. Profound.

p.s. it doesn't have to be realistic, it's an allegory!!

[Sauron's Nagging Wife]

I first read this novel in 1981, and I still think it's one of the best. The story is gripping (the "hunt" for Ralph is certainly a page turner) and the use of the angelic choirboys as a microcosm for humanity is boh frightening and inspired.

Of course nothing is solved. That's the way of the world. The naval officer rescues the boys, but who will rescue the naval officer and his crew from the horrors of real war? It make syou think.

[Darkhalcyon]

i loved it - thought it was quite powerful. i think that Animal Farm was worse...as far as allegories. Or Gulliver's Travels (in its entirety). Lords of the Flies was refreshing, compared to those...

[AngusThermopile]

Ah! Lord of the flies! A multimillionaire, owner of a multinational zipper manufacturing conglomerate.

He wrote a novel too?:confused: :D

[Darkhalcyon]

oooooo bad joke! but still amusing! *hehehe* :D :p

[emplynx]

I had a test on this today at school. :( I havn't read it since summer. (Summer reading.) I hated that book. I had to read it and Jane Eyre which I realllllly hated!

[Laurelyn]

It was strange, if you ask me. Both beautiful and terrible . . .

[snoopy]

I had to read The Lord of the Flies in highschool- And I found it hard to get into.

[RosieCotton]

I am reading Lord of the Flies for my eighth grade English class right now. It seems like you either love it or you hate it. My parents both hated it. I'm only on chapter three, and its weird....but rather intrieging. (I can't spell)
Rosie

[Khamûl]

I've never read Lord of the Flies, but I think that "The Lord of the Flies" is the meaning of the Hebrew word Beelzebub. I think I heard that on Jeopardy one day and it kinda stuck. I though it was interesting. Does Beelzebub (Satan) have anything to do with the story or the possible meanings? (since you said it was an allegory)

[Nibs]

Where's that friggin' conch? I want to reply.

[FrodoFriend]

The actual "Lord of the Flies" (Beezlebub) represents the savagery in man. Basically, without civilization and laws to keep us in line, we run loose like wild animals (plus we do it even with civilization and laws). A rather dark view of mankind. As for Beezlebub representing Satan, I don't know - depends on whether William Golding was religious or not, I guess.

[RosieCotton]

Oh great, it sounds depressing. I hate depressing books. :mad:
Nice thought Khamul (sorry if I spelled it wrong.)

[RosieCotton]

Yeah!!! I'm an Elven Warrior! FINALLY!

[Treebeard's apprentice]

It is true that Beelzebub is a Hebrew translation for Lord of the Flies, but Beelzebub is not the devil himself, just a demon who is sort of "second in command" to Satan.

Incidently, both of these characters are important in Milton's epic poem Paradise Lost, which I also had to read in my English class a few weeks ago. While I did like it somewhat better than Lord of the Flies, I'm glad we only had to read a small part of it.

[Sylvee Estel]

I had to read this book for English this year. It was written really well, and it made me think, the symbolism was kinda cool and all, but it was disgusting! Yuck! And I LIKED Piggy! OMG it did give me nightmares! So I guess I kinda have an appreciation for this book, but hate it all the same.

[RosieCotton]

Don't read it. One of the most depressing books ever. Seriously. I had nightmares about Piggy and Simon. *Shiver*

[Rûdhaglarien]

All of the 'adults' in my family who have read it in the past liked it when they were younger, but hate it now, I don't know. I loved it, personally, as did most of my friends.

[Play Girl]

WHAT!!! I loved the book when I read it at school! The ending was amazing. The adult turns up and suddenly the boys revert back from savagery to being well, boys. They suddenly relise what they were going to do, the first two deaths were possibly mistakes but they were actually hunting down the third boy.
And that bit where they relise that the boy with the birthmark on his face is missing after the fire. Chilling!
luv
Play Girl
xxx

[entss89]

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU THAT WAS A STUPID BOOK AND I HOLD A GRUDGE AGAINST MY TEACHER WHO MADE ME READ IT!:D

[RosieCotton]

It was very well written, but I didn't like it much. It was extremely pessimistic.

Rosie

[Hanza]

We are going to be studying Lord of the flies for my GCSE english exam. dont what we'll do about it. Hope it will be good.

[Beleg Strongbow]

I hated it. Had to do 7 pages of BS on it... :mad:

[TariCalmcacil]

Originally posted by Treebeard's apprentice
All I want to say about this book is that I think it is stupid. We had to read it for my English class, and it is just an obvious symbol for the "evils of the world":rolleyes: . The part I have a problem with is the ending. It is so contrived. The Navy man shows up and it just ends. Nothing is solved. I felt that reading it insulted my intelligence. What do you think?

Note:: I'm not preaching... I just like the book.

You don't need to feel that way! I had to read that book for my english class too, and i felt that, even though we beat it with a stick until it would bleed no more, reading Lord Of The Flies was a profound experience. There is alot that this book can teach you about yourself, and I usually don't see this in novels that you have to read for school. The end was significant, because the Naval officer asks, who is the leader among you, and don't you notice that Jack doesn't speak up, and Ralph does! So even in the end, Ralph was the leader. The events that rocked this novel were horrendous, Jack is a prime example of evil, as well as Roger, because he tortured the twins and released the rock on Piggy and thus, destroyed the conch. The conch was very symbolic in the novel, as was the Lord Of The Flies, who symbolized the evil in people and the devil. The thing with this book though, if you've read it once, you don't need to read it again. This will be a book that I will remember for along time.

Tari

[Beleg Strongbow]

The symbolism is overdone, in my opinion. It's easy to do a report on, but that doesn't make it a good book. It's descriptive but not particularly insightful.

[TariCalmcacil]

You are right, Beleg Strongbow because frankly, EVERYTHING in that book has some sort of symbolism. It makes you wonder what kind of free time this man had on his hands. =P Of course, it is easy to do a report on, but I do think it is insightful. It does, give you an insight on human nature though it is in the darkest way possible....

Tari

[Lady of Rohan]

I am reading Lord of the Flies right now. My sister has to read it for english, and I was boared, so I decided to read it. I don't think its that bad (so far). They just caught the pig.

[Belle]

I read the book quite a long time ago and if nothing else it had a big impact on me. I thought the way the boys slowly went back on their evolution to become animals again was really great. It's up there with Animal Farm for imagery.