On 28th June 2025, as part of Dr. Subhash University’s “Beyond the Book: Let’s Talk” series, I had the opportunity to present my reflections on William Golding’s Lord of the Flies—a novel that challenges readers to question the fragility of civilization and the primal instincts that lie beneath our social veneers.
Set on a deserted island, the novel follows a group of British schoolboys whose attempt at self-governance spirals into chaos. Through characters like Ralph, Piggy, Jack, and Simon—and symbols like the conch shell and the fearsome “Lord of the Flies”—Golding constructs a haunting meditation on power, fear, and moral collapse.
What makes Lord of the Flies timeless is its ability to provoke uncomfortable questions:
Is civilization just a thin shell?
Are we inherently good, or do circumstances awaken a dormant savagery?
What happens when empathy gives way to groupthink?
From a humanities perspective, the novel is more than fiction—it’s a mirror reflecting our collective consciousness. In classrooms, workplaces, and digital spaces, the dynamics Golding explores feel eerily familiar even today.
As we continue this book talk series, my hope is that we move beyond passive reading to active questioning, conversation, and connection. Because sometimes, fiction doesn’t just help us understand the world—it helps us confront the truths within ourselves.
Click here to have a glance at the major themes of Lord of the Flies.
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