Shakespeare: Who’s the man?

Lord of the Flies Critical Thinking

• Golding has Simon discover the nature of evil. Do you think some people are more insightful and aware than others? Why/why not?
• What’s the difference between bad behaviour and evil? Explain without relying on an example.
• Does Jack actually believe in the Beast or does he use the boys’ fear of the Beast to maintain control?
• As leaders, both Ralph and Jack create a type of order. There are rules in both “governments.” What is the difference?
• After the boys are rescued, Ralph weeps for “the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart, and the fall through the air of the true, wise friend called Piggy.” Was Piggy wise? Was he a good friend to everyone, or just to Ralph? 
• What is innocence? When does it end? How do we know it’s over?
• There are three types of relationships in the story: relationship with self, communication/understanding between two people, and membership in a group. Describe one character who understands himself. What does he do? What self understanding do you see? Describe two characters who communicate with each other. How do they interact? What is the result? Describe a group interaction. Is there a leader? What happens when the interaction is spontaneous?
• After is killed, Piggy rationalizes his involvement in the killing, saying Simon “was batty, he asked for it.” Ralph feels guilty. Later when a boy says “Didn’t we kill it?” Jack easily redirects their thoughts? What makes some people so able to not acknowledge their behaviour?