Theme of Lord of the Flies

FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN
NOT KNOWING WHAT IS COMING AROUND THE CORNER OR IS HIDING UNDER THE BED SCARES ALMOST EVERYONE. VERY RARELY IS THERE ACTUALLY SOMETHING THERE, BUT FEAR CAN CAUSE PEOPLE TO ACT STRANGELY. IN THE NOVEL LORD OF THE FLIES, WILLIAM GOLDING SHOWS THAT FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN CAN DESTROY ORDER, AND MAY PROMOTE VIOLENCE.
ANXIETY CAUSES MANY PEOPLE TO PANIC AND GO AGAINST WHAT THEY WOULD NORMALLY DO. FOR EXAMPLE, A LITTLE BOY ON THE ISLAND WHO IS FRIGHTENED ASKS RALPH, ”’WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT THE SNAKE-THING?’” (GOLDING 35). THERE IS NO SNAKE BUT THE BOY’S FEAR OF WHAT MIGHT BE OUT IN THE WOODS CAUSES HIM TO IMAGINE HE SEES A BEAST. HE BRINGS THIS UP AT A MEETING AND THROWS EVERYONE INTO A STATE OF PANIC. IN ADDITION, WHEN JACK HEARS ABOUT THE BEAST, HE WANTS TO GO AFTER IT WHILE RALPH WANTS TO FOCUS ON THE FIRE. JACK’S BELIEF IN THE BEAST TEARS HIM AND RALPH EVEN FURTHER APART...