Theme

The following themes are presented, developed and supported throughout the story.

1. **Good versus Evil** - what the characters do and why they do it 2. **The "Heart of Darkness" or how civilized people can descend into savagery** - going from an advanced, orderly society into a primitive one ruled by "native" desires, needs and instincts. Are the boys turning into "savages"? Who? Why? How? 3. **Rules and Society and the World of Adult Authority** - the importance of rules, common goals, adult versus childish logic and reasoning. Who are the "adults" on the island? Are rules necessary? Do we need to be surrounded by the confines of society to act civilized? 4. **Nature versus Nuture** - is **a** person born "good" or "evil" or does that person learn to be good or evil? Which has a stronger effect on a person: genetics or the environment in which he/she is raised? A person is not born good or evil. Genetics have no role in this. It is based on the experience a person has and the environment one was raised in. 5. **Survival of the Fittest** - what characteristics are valued? Who is "fit" to make decisions? Why? What skills (physical, mental) are needed to survive on this island? Which characters have those strengths? 6. **Fear** - how does fear rule the characters' lives? Is it real or imagined? 7. **Humans versus Nature** - how do the boys treat their surroundings? Do they have a thirst for natural destruction? Are they working against their natural environment or using it their advantage? Why are environmental messages being conveyed in the book? **The boys almost destroy the island. They have a thirst for natural destruction. They use the island as an advantage. Environmental messages are conveyed in this book because the author wants you to know that the boys are not afraid to destroy the island to do what they want.**
 * Some Characters, like the savages, are just evil. Ralph turns out to be the only good character left in his tribe. The savages kill others and steal the fire and glasses from the civilized characters. Ralph continues to try and reason with Jack but Jack won't listen. **
 * The boys are turning into savages. Jack and Roger are completely turned **. ** The rest of the boys in Jack's group are almost complete savages. Once a boy kills, they turn into a monster. They like to kill, and if there is an opportunity, they will do so. **
 * Ralph is the adult on the island even though Jack is older. Rules are necessary because without them, a boy could screw everything up and not get punished. We need to be surrounded by society to be able to act civilized because we have others who will be doing it with you. **
 * On this island, the boys value a good leader and a good hunter. Jack is looked up to by his tribe. He is not fit to make decisions, however Ralph is. Jack does not know how to prioritize. You need to have an open mind and a fit body to survive on an island of boys. Ralph has both of these. **
 * Fear rules the boys' lives. The boys have to base they're decisions around fear. Jack's fear is real, however, every other fear is imagined. **