For this assignment I will review the book, "Lord Of the Flies" by William Golding and attempt to show how free will within human beings will most likely always prevent any utopia from arising. From the very beginning the story is already within the middle of a war, a plane gets shot down and leaves a handful of boys stranded on a deserted island. At first the boys seem to be acting rationally, they form a kind of civilization with an elected leader, assigned roles and so on. However, this peace does not last. One of the boys, Jack, begins to influence more and more of the boys to succumb to their savage nature and soon enough their civilization begins to crumble. Within a very short period of time most of the boys are actively hunting the others, they have become nothing more then savage beasts. Even the most Ideal, rationally thinking character Ralph gives in to his savage nature for a period of time. Ralph participates in murdering one of the boys Simon, along with the others. By the end of the story many boys wind up being killed either by hunting others or just by acting in self defense, the remaining end up getting rescued and brought back to the rest of civilization. At the beginning of the story every single one of the boys were well reasoned individuals, and by the end nearly everyone of them gave in to their savage nature and the only one that didn't was murdered by the rest. I don't think I even have to begin to explain how this entire society is not a utopia but I feel it's a good example of how a utopia is never likely to exist, at least for any substantial period of time, This story shows how most human beings have an innately evil, savage nature that they will act upon and let out if placed in the proper situations. Keep in mind that these are a bunch of young boys, how much worse would this story have been if they were adults? Some may argue that adults would know better but I strongly disagree. As my evidence I point to nearly every war ever. Think about it, why did the boys start to give into their savage nature? Fear, hunger, lack of resources, different beliefs etc... Why do most wars start? Fear, hunger, lack of resources, different beliefs etc... As long as human beings retain free will, which I believe they will always do, a utopia can never come to be (for any substantial period of time) because different people have different idea's and belief's about nearly everything and when those belief's and idea's don't agree with each other conflict usually arises. It doesn't matter how young or old the person is, people will always have their own individual beliefs that they will hold onto and defend.
Ron Hoffman
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