Overview:
Published in the year 1954, “Lord of the Flies” was the first book written by Nobel Prize winning British poet and author, William Golding. It speaks about controversial subjects regarding the basic human nature and outlines the difference between the greater good and personal welfare and has therefore been placed 68th on the American Library’s list of 100 most challenged books.
However, its innovative and catchy writing and the subject matter impressed many a critic and therefore, it has been placed 25th on the readers’ list for the 100 best novels by Modern Library. It has also featured on TIME magazine’s list of 100 best novels in the 20th century.
When it was released, “Lord of the Flies” wasn’t accepted by the public very well. In the year that followed its release, it only managed to sell 3000 copies in all. However, by the end of the same decade, it became one of the biggest best-sellers. It also became a “required reading” book in many colleges and schools all over the world. Filmmakers started taking notice of it and it was soon adapted into a film directed by Peter Brook in the year 1963. It was adapted once again, this time by Harry Hook, in the year 1990.
Summary of the Plot:
“Lord of the Flies” is basically based around a time when a fictitious Third World War takes place. A plane carrying students, crash lands on a distant island from where, no kind of civilization can be seen for miles. Most of the children have never seen each other before while others are already under the leadership of one particular student. When they have no option but to govern themselves in this seemingly paradisiacal island, they literally descend to savagery. From the security of their cozy homes and the civilized state of their schools, they are directly sent to live in a primitive manner. In the end, because of a blunder made by Jack Merridew, a warship spots the children and takes them home to where they belong.
