In Lord of the Flies, many of the natural rights that John Locke proposed are addressed, breached, and sometimes even blatantly abused. The movie addresses important issues regarding the tendencies of human nature and stresses the importance of establishing some type of government. Without government, the human species will naturally destroy itself. As Hobbes once said regarding life without government: it would be "nasty, brutish, and short."".
Locke thought that without some system of checks and balances, the weak would be deprived of their three natural rights: life, liberty, and property. The first right that Locke proposed, the right to life, is certainly breached throughout the movie. Simon, the first victim, is killed by "accident- when the group mistakes him for the beast. Piggy, though, is killed purposefully. Because Piggy is the symbol of civilization and order, killing him is evidence that Locke's natural rights are disregarded, and savagery takes its place. When they begin to hunt Ralph, it is apparent that any system of structure has long since been overthrown.
Liberty, the right to freedom, is also addressed in the movie. In the beginning, the students have almost complete freedom; they can do what they want for the most part. Some freedom is later taken away in return for protection. The group makes a social contract when they vote and agree to allow Ralph to lead them. They can no longer do what they want, but Ralph in turn, agrees to protect them and guide them. His system of "government- closely resembles a democracy. The people have more options and he has limited power. He uses the conch to give students freedom of speech. The group approves every decision. .
Jack's group, however, more closely represents a dictatorship. He offers protection from "the beast,"" but at a much greater price. Jack realizes that his government can only survive if the people have something to fear, so he creates "the beast- and offers protection to that end.
