Violence Mock
“All round him the long scar smashed into the jungle was a bath of heat.” (The Sound of the Shell)
From the very beginning of the novel the reader is introduced to the destructive nature of humanity
and its negative impact upon the natural world.
In Chapter 1, Golding clearly establishes the island setting as a tropical paradise with danger
underlying its beauty.
The all-consuming nature of human destruction is emphasised by the image of the scar
being “long” and “all round him” – there is no escaping the devastation.
The sibilance of “scar smashed” is almost onomatopoeic as the reader can hear the sounds
of the violent crash, with the metaphor “scar” alluding to the wounds mankind inflicts upon
nature, thus portraying violent features.
Furthermore, this reveals background information to the plot of how the boys are evacuees
from the war who have landed on the island due to a plane crash which connotes violence
from the beginning.
A sense of being overwhelmed and oppressed are evident from the beginning of the novel.
“Jungle” has associations with the future savagery, but also a sense of being trapped in an
overgrown environment. The pathetic fallacy of “bath of heat” creates a sense of being
submerged in something overwhelming.
Use in essays on… Nature, Violence, Evil
“Jack drew his knife again with a flourish… There came a pause, a hiatus, the pig continued to scream
and the creepers to jerk, and the blade continued to flash at the end of a bony arm.” (The Sound of
the Shell)
Whilst hunting is essential for food and stereotypically ‘English’, the reader gets a sense of the
bloodlust growing in Jack, who is still just a young boy.
The sentence structure of “a pause, a hiatus”, using a comma between the two words
mimics Jack’s hesitation, he is still conditioned by the civilised world.
The use of the “blade”, with associations of violence and death, contrasts with the image of
“a bony arm”, highlighting Jack’s youth and innocence. It suggests he is not physically
designed to kill.
However, “flourish” explicitly depicts Jack’s excitement this causes the reader to feel uneasy
as this excitement is aimed at something that continues to “scream” and “jerk”.
Use in essays on… Violence, Savagery, Civilisation, Evil, Fear, Identity
“Here, invisible yet strong, was the taboo of the old life… the protection of parents and school and
policemen and the law. Roger’s arm was conditioned by a civilisation that knew nothing of him and
was in ruins.” (Painted Faces and Long Hair)
Roger seems to be instinctively violent and drawn to aggression towards others, but is conditioned
by an invisible force that won’t allow him to directly hit Henry.
The alliterative “conditioned by a civilisation” suggests man is not instinctively wholesome
and good, we have to be “conditioned” to behave correctly.
Polysyndeton highlights the work required to civilise mankind. We are taught morally
(“parents”), educationally (“school”) and legally (“policemen/the law”).
Civilisation soon fades away. Whilst its imagery is “strong”, it is “invisible”, therefore easy to
reject. “Old” suggests that a new way of life is coming it is only “Roger’s arm” that is
conditioned, not his mind; and the adult world is “in ruins”.
, Use in essays on… Civilisation, Violence, Innocence, Identity
“The hunters, circling still, pretended to beat him… ‘Kill the pig. Bash her in.’ Ralph watched them,
envious and resentful.” (Painted Faces and Long Hair)
Englishness and civilisation have disappeared from the hunters; they are stereotypically tribal, with
violence and aggression overcoming their boyish behaviour.
“Pretended” had associations of youthful imagination and childish games, but is juxtaposed
with “beat him”, depicting a move from innocence to violence.
“Envious and resentful” highlights the appeal of the chant. Whilst Ralph is “resentful”, he is
still drawn to the excitement of their tribal behaviour.
These are powerful phrases that highlight the viciousness of this violent, tribal practice. The
actions of these young boys are also atrocious and horrifying.
Throughout the novel, the “Kill” chants change. “Kill” and “cut” are harsh, violent and
aggressive, but also necessary for a hunt. However, the earlier “spill her blood”, whilst still
violent, now becomes “bash her in”, a destructive image of beating that serves no purpose
except a desire for violence.
Use in essays on… Savagery, Evil, Violence, The Beast, Fear, Power
“A sign came down from the world of grown-ups… a sudden bright explosion… then darkness again…
a speck above the island, a figure dropping… with dangling limbs” (Beast from Air)
The boys become barbaric, but are no different to the adult world in Europe, where war was causing
the same level of death and destruction as on the island.
“The world of grown-ups” is meant to be safe and secure. Instead the violence of
“explosion”, rather than bringing safety, creates nothing but “darkness”.
The “sign” is clear, human life is insignificant. The pilot is just a “speck” and “figure”, with no
identity. Just like Piggy, no one knows his name, he is killed in conflict and is washed out to
sea. The boys simply copy this adult world.
The fragility of human life is emphasised by the adjective “dangling”.
Use in essays on… Savagery, Civilisation, Violence, Identity, Evil, The Beast
“Something like a great ape was sitting asleep… Then the wind roared in the forest, there was
confusion in the darkness and the creature lifted its head… the ruin of a face.” (Shadows and Tall
Trees)
The difference between human, animal and beast continues to become blurry and confused: “ape”,
“creature” and “face” could be either the pilot or the evil beast.
The simile “like a great ape” makes the link between man and animal clear, we have not
evolved beyond the animalistic savagery of beasts. Humans are nothing more than a
“creature”, suggesting a lack of evolution.
The once harmonious island now attacks the boys. The personification of wind that “roared”
suggests the anger of the island at human behaviour and “confusion” and “darkness” shows
the former paradise is now a hellish place.
“The ruin of a face” is a horrific image of violence and destruction.
Use in essays on… The Beast, Violence, Nature, Savagery, Identity
“the build-up of clouds continued. A steady current of heated air… was thrust to ten thousand feet;
revolving masse of gas piled up the static until the air was ready to explode” (A View to a Death)
“All round him the long scar smashed into the jungle was a bath of heat.” (The Sound of the Shell)
From the very beginning of the novel the reader is introduced to the destructive nature of humanity
and its negative impact upon the natural world.
In Chapter 1, Golding clearly establishes the island setting as a tropical paradise with danger
underlying its beauty.
The all-consuming nature of human destruction is emphasised by the image of the scar
being “long” and “all round him” – there is no escaping the devastation.
The sibilance of “scar smashed” is almost onomatopoeic as the reader can hear the sounds
of the violent crash, with the metaphor “scar” alluding to the wounds mankind inflicts upon
nature, thus portraying violent features.
Furthermore, this reveals background information to the plot of how the boys are evacuees
from the war who have landed on the island due to a plane crash which connotes violence
from the beginning.
A sense of being overwhelmed and oppressed are evident from the beginning of the novel.
“Jungle” has associations with the future savagery, but also a sense of being trapped in an
overgrown environment. The pathetic fallacy of “bath of heat” creates a sense of being
submerged in something overwhelming.
Use in essays on… Nature, Violence, Evil
“Jack drew his knife again with a flourish… There came a pause, a hiatus, the pig continued to scream
and the creepers to jerk, and the blade continued to flash at the end of a bony arm.” (The Sound of
the Shell)
Whilst hunting is essential for food and stereotypically ‘English’, the reader gets a sense of the
bloodlust growing in Jack, who is still just a young boy.
The sentence structure of “a pause, a hiatus”, using a comma between the two words
mimics Jack’s hesitation, he is still conditioned by the civilised world.
The use of the “blade”, with associations of violence and death, contrasts with the image of
“a bony arm”, highlighting Jack’s youth and innocence. It suggests he is not physically
designed to kill.
However, “flourish” explicitly depicts Jack’s excitement this causes the reader to feel uneasy
as this excitement is aimed at something that continues to “scream” and “jerk”.
Use in essays on… Violence, Savagery, Civilisation, Evil, Fear, Identity
“Here, invisible yet strong, was the taboo of the old life… the protection of parents and school and
policemen and the law. Roger’s arm was conditioned by a civilisation that knew nothing of him and
was in ruins.” (Painted Faces and Long Hair)
Roger seems to be instinctively violent and drawn to aggression towards others, but is conditioned
by an invisible force that won’t allow him to directly hit Henry.
The alliterative “conditioned by a civilisation” suggests man is not instinctively wholesome
and good, we have to be “conditioned” to behave correctly.
Polysyndeton highlights the work required to civilise mankind. We are taught morally
(“parents”), educationally (“school”) and legally (“policemen/the law”).
Civilisation soon fades away. Whilst its imagery is “strong”, it is “invisible”, therefore easy to
reject. “Old” suggests that a new way of life is coming it is only “Roger’s arm” that is
conditioned, not his mind; and the adult world is “in ruins”.
, Use in essays on… Civilisation, Violence, Innocence, Identity
“The hunters, circling still, pretended to beat him… ‘Kill the pig. Bash her in.’ Ralph watched them,
envious and resentful.” (Painted Faces and Long Hair)
Englishness and civilisation have disappeared from the hunters; they are stereotypically tribal, with
violence and aggression overcoming their boyish behaviour.
“Pretended” had associations of youthful imagination and childish games, but is juxtaposed
with “beat him”, depicting a move from innocence to violence.
“Envious and resentful” highlights the appeal of the chant. Whilst Ralph is “resentful”, he is
still drawn to the excitement of their tribal behaviour.
These are powerful phrases that highlight the viciousness of this violent, tribal practice. The
actions of these young boys are also atrocious and horrifying.
Throughout the novel, the “Kill” chants change. “Kill” and “cut” are harsh, violent and
aggressive, but also necessary for a hunt. However, the earlier “spill her blood”, whilst still
violent, now becomes “bash her in”, a destructive image of beating that serves no purpose
except a desire for violence.
Use in essays on… Savagery, Evil, Violence, The Beast, Fear, Power
“A sign came down from the world of grown-ups… a sudden bright explosion… then darkness again…
a speck above the island, a figure dropping… with dangling limbs” (Beast from Air)
The boys become barbaric, but are no different to the adult world in Europe, where war was causing
the same level of death and destruction as on the island.
“The world of grown-ups” is meant to be safe and secure. Instead the violence of
“explosion”, rather than bringing safety, creates nothing but “darkness”.
The “sign” is clear, human life is insignificant. The pilot is just a “speck” and “figure”, with no
identity. Just like Piggy, no one knows his name, he is killed in conflict and is washed out to
sea. The boys simply copy this adult world.
The fragility of human life is emphasised by the adjective “dangling”.
Use in essays on… Savagery, Civilisation, Violence, Identity, Evil, The Beast
“Something like a great ape was sitting asleep… Then the wind roared in the forest, there was
confusion in the darkness and the creature lifted its head… the ruin of a face.” (Shadows and Tall
Trees)
The difference between human, animal and beast continues to become blurry and confused: “ape”,
“creature” and “face” could be either the pilot or the evil beast.
The simile “like a great ape” makes the link between man and animal clear, we have not
evolved beyond the animalistic savagery of beasts. Humans are nothing more than a
“creature”, suggesting a lack of evolution.
The once harmonious island now attacks the boys. The personification of wind that “roared”
suggests the anger of the island at human behaviour and “confusion” and “darkness” shows
the former paradise is now a hellish place.
“The ruin of a face” is a horrific image of violence and destruction.
Use in essays on… The Beast, Violence, Nature, Savagery, Identity
“the build-up of clouds continued. A steady current of heated air… was thrust to ten thousand feet;
revolving masse of gas piled up the static until the air was ready to explode” (A View to a Death)
