Author’s View Of Human Behaivior Essay, Research Paper

An author’s view of human behavior is often reflected in their

works. The novels All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria

Remarque and Lord of the Flies by William Golding are both examples of

works that demonstrate their author’s view of man, as well his opinion

of war.

Golding’s Lord of the Flies is highly demonstrative of Golding’s

opinion that society is a thin and fragile veil that when removed

shows man for what he truly is, a savage animal. Perhaps the bet

demonstration of this given by Golding is Jack’s progression to the

killing of the sow. Upon first landing on the island Jack, Ralph, and

Simon go to survey their new home. Along the way the boys have their

first encounter with the island’s pigs. They see a piglet caught in

some of the plants. Quickly Jack draws his knife so as to kill the

piglet. Instead of completing the act, however, Jack hesitates.

Golding states that, “The pause was only long enough for them to

realize the enormity of what the downward stroke would be.” Golding is

suggesting that the societal taboos placed on killing are still

ingrained within Jack. The next significant encounter in Jack’s

progression is his first killing of a pig. There is a description of a

great celebration. The boys chant “Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Spill

her blood.” It is clear from Golding’s description of the revelry that

followed the killing that the act of the hunt provided the boys with

more than food. The action of killing another living thing gives them

pleasure. The last stage in Jack’s metamorphosis is demonstrated by

the murder of the sow. Golding describes the killing almost as a rape.

He says, “Jack was on top of the sow, stabbing downward wherever pig

flesh appeared … Jack found the throat, and the hot blood spouted

over his hands. The sow collapsed under them and they were heavy and

fulfilled upon her.” In this case it is certain that animal savagery

is displayed by the boys. Because they have been away from organized

society for such a long time, the boys of the island have become

Golding’s view of mankind, vile, destructive beasts.

Although Golding shows that the longer one is away from society

the closer to his view one becomes, the institution of civilization

does not escape his criticism. Golding shows through many examples

that those who are “civilized” are just as prone to violence and war

as those who are isolated. The first example presented in the novel

occurs when the boys attempt to emulate the British democratic

government. The boys prize the adults that run the government as the

best decision makers. It is these “civilized” adults, however, who

started the war which has forced the boys onto the island.

Also, in their mimicking of adult society, one of the first things

that the boys do is establish the choir as an army or a group of

hunters. Another of the criticisms of orderly society comes when Ralph

asks for a sign from the adult world. Ralph does receive his sign in

the form of a dead parachute shot down in an air battle above the

island. This can be interpreted as saying that the savagery existent

in man is even shown in the so called “civilized” world through acts

of war. Golding clearly sees war as an action of destruction caused by

man because of his inherently feral nature.

While Golding views man as a brutal creature whose vile traits are

brought out by isolation from society, Remarque’s All Quiet on the

Western Front displays a remarkably contrasting opinion of humanity.

Where Golding’s characters become increasingly more sadistic when

placed in a difficult circumstance, those of Remarque manage to

actually grow more caring and develop a feeling of comradeship. It is

clear that despite the fact that Remarque’s main character and

narrator, Paul B?umer, is taking part in a war and killing others, he

is not a brutal disgusting creature. Even on the front, where Paul is

in danger of losing his life, he acts in a way directly contrasting

Golding’s view of man as a vicious hunter. Paul is faced with a French

soldier who he is to throw a grenade at. Upon seeing his face,

however, Paul hesitates to toss the lethal weapon, as he now

recognizes that this soldier is a person probably much like himself.

This is obviously against Golding’s opinion. In the two murders that

occur in Lord of the Flies, those of Piggy and Simon, the killers do

not care about what they are doing as they are caught up in the

intense feeling of the kill. Another example of Remarque’s view of man

is the reaction of Paul to the Russian soldiers that have been

captured. He gives them cigarettes and food. He deeply sympathizes

with their situation despite being their enemy in name. This is again

an act of kindness and uncalled for altruism, something directly

against Golding’s perceptions.

As Remarque’s views of the nature of man differs form Golding, so

does his opinion about war. Unlike Golding, who feels that war is a

result of man’s natural cruelty and innate desire to hurt others,

Remarque is of the opinion that war is began because of a few people

in power, not all of humanity. At one point in All Quiet on the

Western Front one of the characters, Albert Kropp, suggests that “a

deceleration of war should be a popular festival with entrance tickets

and bands, like a bull fight. Then in the arena the ministers and

generals of the two countries, dressed in bathing drawers and armed

with clubs, can have it out among themselves.” This opinion is

reflective of Remarque’s own. While Golding concentrates only on the

underlying causes of war, Remarque goes on to explain its horrors, as

his is an anti-war novel. Remarque frequently is pointing out the

atrocities of war. While there are countless examples of this in the

novel two of the most striking are the descriptions of the dying

horses and one of the French soldiers. The description that Remarque

uses to convey the image of the dying horses is a very vivid one

intended to provoke a sense of disgust in the reader. He states, “The

belly of one is ripped open, the guts trail out. He becomes tangled in

them and falls, then he stands up again.” Remarque hopes that the

anguish of the horses, who were in no way responsible for their

situation, will earn the reader’s sympathy. The equally graphic

picture of the dying French soldier is also intended to show the

reader some of the horror of war. Remarque says, “… a blow form a

spade cleaves through his face. A second sees it and tries to run

farther, a bayonet jabs into his back.”

Remarque and Golding have differing opinions on human nature as

well as war. Golding, through the actions of his characters, attempts

to illustrate that under chaotic circumstances, removed normal society

man reverts to what his nature deems him to be, a destructive

creature. Remarque’s characters, on the other hand, manage to show

compassion and humane treatment of others despite being thrust into a

situation more terrible than that of Golding’s characters. Where

Golding feels war is a result of humankind’s vile nature, Remarque

sees it as an evil brought about by only a select few.