An End To Innocence On The Demon Archetype In Lord Of The Flies

Lord of the Flies has almost become compulsory reading for those enduring the painful process of growing up since its publication in 1954 in Britain. One of its themes is"the end of innocence". In this novel, Golding's concern is to lay bare the human nature and the nature of the world. The frequent references and allusions to Greek mythology and the Bible offer the possibility and necessity for the application of archetypal and myth criticism in this thesis.The primary concern of the thesis is on the shaping mechanism of demon archetype in William Golding's Lord of the Flies. In Chapter One, the author points out the biological causes on the formation of demon archetype: the universal fascination with power, the universal fear, among others. The author argues that there are two reasons why Jack is considered as the major representative of demon archetype. In Chapter Two, the author further elaborates the psychological impacts caused by these biological factors upon the major characters. The author analyses each character's defense mechanism against their privation and makes the point clear that Jack's addiction to hunting is an extreme expression of his inborn demonic elements. He revolts against modern civilization represented by Piggy and Ralph. Through Jack's characterization, Golding creates his modern myth of Satan. In Chapter Three, the author comes to the cultural representation of demon archetype using Frye's archetypal practice. The author lays his emphasis on the two opposing imagery in this novel, that is, images of the apocalyptic and images of the demonic. The checks and balances of the opposing imagery form the symmetric beauty in the novel's structure. The above analysis enriches our understanding of the novel and offers us a deeper comprehension of human nature.