In William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, the consumption and pursuit of animal flesh represent a descent into primal savagery and the abandonment of civilization. It begins as a necessary source of sustenance but evolves into a symbol of the boys’ increasingly violent and instinctual behavior. The act of hunting, butchering, and consuming the slain pig becomes intrinsically linked to their loss of innocence and the erosion of their connection to the adult world and its rules.
The acquisition of this food source provides more than just physical nourishment; it grants a sense of power and dominance. This dominance is initially expressed through triumphant hunts, but soon spirals into aggressive displays of strength and territoriality. The collective hunt satisfies a deeper, more primal urge within the boys, reinforcing group cohesion through ritualistic behavior and fueling a hunger for further displays of control. This progression mirrors the overall deterioration of the island society and the boys’ inability to maintain order and reason.
