Subversion And Innovation

Taking Lord of the Flies as the study of the desert island fiction, this thesis analyzes it from three aspects, namely, the theme, the plot and the writing techniques, to illustrate its subversion of the traditional desert island fiction.This thesis consists of five parts. The part one is the introduction of the development of desert island fiction and the Lord of the Flies, including the recent studies of the novel and the significance of this thesis. Chapter one is the analysis of the characteristics of the traditional desert island fiction theme, taking The Tempest, Robinson Crusoe, Treasure Island and The Coral Island as examples, and the subversion of the theme in Lord of the Flies. Chapter two studies the plot of the traditional desert island fiction and the subversion in the Lord of the Flies In the traditional desert island fiction, protagonists represent justice, and the evil is from outside. The resolution of the conflict is justice over evil. Lord of the Flies subverts this model with the evil from inside, and the resolution is evil over justice. Therefore, the ending of Lord of the Flies is completely different from the traditional ones. Chapter three illustrates the symbolism and irony in the novel as well as their significance. Part five is Conclusion.William Golding employs symbolism and irony in his allegorical fiction flexibly and depicts the round and vivid characters successfully, which refreshes readers who are numb with thetraditional desert island fiction.