In literature a theme can be conveyed by two different stories and make them similar. The novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding and short story "The Destructors" by Graham Greene show a similar theme. The theme that they both convey is that the want for power leads to savagery. This theme is shown by many different things throughout both pieces of literature. The things that most show this theme are the thoughts and actions of the characters.
The want for power makes characters think savagely and not how they normally would. Two such characters from Lord of the Flies are Jack and Ralph. Jack is the antagonist in this novel who becomes evil after his hunger for power and his thoughts and ideas showed this evil. Jack became evil when he acquired a want for power. He could not stand it from the start that Ralph had been elected chief over him. ""I ought to be chief", said Jack with simple arrogance, "because I"m chapter chorister and head boy. I can sing C sharp"" (Golding, 22). He always thought he had more power than Ralph and also thought of himself as a better leader. His want for power and jealousy for Ralph's power made him lose control and eventually take control in a savage manner. Likewise there were two similar characters in the short story "The Destructors" and they are T. and Blackie. In this story Blackie is the gang leader and he usually comes up with the ideas for what the gang will do. However, when T. the new member comes up with a plan to bring down Mr. Thomas's house the gang turns to T. to lead. It is not a formal transfer of power; however, T. knows that he has gained it. The want for this power made him come up with a very savage and evil idea, which was to tear down poor Mr. Thomas's house. Blackie did not want the power, but he was the one who had it. T. on the other hand, was out to get it for himself. ""He"ll tell you," Blackie said. It was the end of his leadership. He went away to the back of the car-park and began to kick a stone, dribbling in this way and that" (Greene, 583).