Power In Lord Of The Flies Research Paper

Words: 761
Pages: 4

Power Leads to Evil
“Evil is the exercise of power”. (Zimbardo, 2008) When someone is in control they believe their actions are justified. Often times unaware of the imposing harm to others of lesser class, they assume their actions are in the right, because they are in a place of control. William Golding’s book the Lord of The Flies indirectly portrays Zimbardo’s thoughts regarding the subject of evil and how it is, many times, a direct result of an individual(s) placement of power. Those deemed powerless often times sustain from introducing bad behavior. Their actions are not as effective as those who are listened to. In LOTF the roles of the powerful and powerless are depicted by Jack and Piggy. Jack, the natural born leader, abuses his power, to serve his own impulsive agenda, whereas Piggy speculates the longterm effects of the group’s decisions. The balance between good and evil and powerful and powerless is found through Ralph, whose humanity influences his decisions. William Golding demonstrates without a doubt that with power, good people can turn evil.
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Jack’s escalating power brings out his underlying narcism. Thinking only for himself leads to the diminishment of his humanity. His previous values, goals, and hopes are replaced by savagery. Jack, using his animalistic instincts to survive, is far from the face of humanity. He is focused on the killing of the island’s pigs to fulfill his appetite and also his need to exercise his control over the group. “Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood!”. (Golding 152) In the previously known world Jack’s acts would have been frowned upon, on the island he hides behind them with face paint. “People's aggression can also increase when they feel anonymous”. (Common