The Impact of Isolation Maeve McGeown 11th Grade

The Impact of Isolation

Throughout history, humans and their humanity have evolved and advanced, becoming more sophisticated to suit the developing world around them. Sculpted by friends, family, lifestyle and environment, people and their personas are being constantly altered and refined. In William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, this natural process of the evolution of humanity is reversed by the lack of civilization in the setting that the novel takes place in. The isolation in which the characters live causes them to degenerate into a more primitive state in which their innermost desires are revealed, and to adopt personas that help them attain only what they deem most important to survival. This adaptation is shown when examining how Jack’s persona changes to assert power, Roger’s changes to create intimidation, and Ralph’s changes to preserve civilization.

Within the civilization that the boys grew up and lived in before becoming stranded on the island, Jack Merridew enjoyed a position of significance and power among his peers, and his determination to maintain this position of authority is amplified out of control by the isolation and lack of order in his new environment, causing him to develop a persona that intimidates...