When I first began to read Lord of the Flies, I was both apprehensive at the prospect of such an allegedly gory depiction of human evil, but equally excited to experience this acclaimed classic. A day later, I read through the last few pages with my hands cold with genuine terror. William Golding published this brief yet gripping and brilliant work in 1954, but to this day, Lord of the Flies is read widely around the world, and deservedly so. The uneasiness and suspense that builds up through the gradual change in the young boys’ behavior, with the descriptions of the jungle island’s savagery that they seem to eventually echo, is haunting.
The innocent, play-loving British boys that readers are introduced to in the first few pages, by the end, have committed deeds that readers would have scarcely imagined. Powerful, horrifying, and straightforward in narrative, Lord of the Flies has stunned many readers, including Lois Lowry and Stephen King, and undoubtedly will continue to do so with its unique and vibrant messages on the fundamental nature of human beings.
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
Published through the Teen Review Board of the Hamilton Public Library
Nov 27, 2018
Link: https://hpl.bibliocommons.com/item/ugc/464865125?ugc_id=1310053411
