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Thomas Hobbes & William Golding: Mirroring Views of Inherent

 

             The quality of being morally bad or wrong; wickedness. That which causes harm, misfortune, or destruction: (a leader's power to do both good and evil.) 3. An evil force, power, or personification. 4. Something that is a cause or source of suffering, injury, or destruction: (the social evils of poverty and injustice.) (Collegiate Dictionary 396). Many of these qualities are present and used in William Golding's Lord of the Flies. It can also be seen in the writings of Thomas Hobbes. .
             In the book The Lord of the Flies, William Golding shows many views that compare to those of the English philosopher Thomas Hobbes. In his book Leviathan, Thomas Hobbes spends a great deal of time examining human nature and how he thinks humans would act without society, government, or a code of moral values (Thomas Hobbes). In relation, William Golding's Lord of the Flies demonstrates human nature without the bounds of society or it's laws through the eyes of young boys. .
             William Golding's novel also displays the battle between the two forces, good and evil. In the beginning, Ralph believes he would make a good chief to lead the boys but Jack disagrees saying with simple arrogance, "I ought to be chief because I"m chapter chorister and head boy. I can sing C sharp." (Golding 22). This ties into Thomas Hobbes" belief that when two beings compete for the same object, they will become enemies and so try to destroy or subdue each .
             other (Bertolini). Even though Jack and Ralph do not become enemies at this time, they still have battling views and the desire to rule. .
             Another belief of Thomas Hobbes that is incorporated into the book is that if an individual becomes superior, they become happier. They will however be attacked by other individuals, both stronger and weaker, who perceive them as a threat to either their lives or their happiness. Thus, in order to preserve their lives and current level of happiness, the individual must obtain further power to protect himself.


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