Barbaric Demoracy

Many books came to mind when deciding on a classic Y.A. novel. I concluded upon the Lord of the Flies by William Golding. This is a classic and remains one of my favorite books that I have in my library. Although critics have strongly disliked this novel I still feel that it was ground breaking and very instrumental for many teens during the early 1950’s as well as today. After re-reading analytically I began to think was distinguishes books from not just good, bad, influential, groundbreaking or even a classic? Then it was revealed a book that is critically analyzed important to a generation and yet can still withstand the test of time defines and separates books/novels into becoming a classic. Similarly to the boys in the books, humans are naturally inclined to govern ourselves. Almost instinct, one could argue. Seeing that we have dominance over other mammals, why not demand the same hierarchal status among your own species? From typical group projects in the classroom setting, on your job or even in military settings, leaders always arise and began their “gut” feelings to organize and set up rules and a governing system. It also parallels how conformity is in many cases inevitable. It only takes one doubting moment to cause the strong minded to become weak and change their beliefs and morals. One of the major messages I believe from this novel would be how their innocence was lost in the end. This could be perceived as negative, however being an optimist, we all have to loose (at least a part) of our innocence! It is a necessary part of growth for life.