Macbeth And Lord Of Flies Essay, Research Paper

The human being, according to evolution, has evolved from animals to become a

superior animal form that has the ability to decipher right and wrong, have

recognizable feelings, and at the same time have that animalistic

characteristics wild beasts have. The authors of Macbeth and Lord of the Flies

attempt to exhibit the idea that human beings are totally capable of acting like

wild beast. The authors explain to us that different factors bring out our

animal, or beast, instincts. Envy, fear, and jealousy are factors, which

contribute to our regression as savages. Human beings thrive on competition, so,

such factors can change the way we think. These authors use characters like Jack

and Macbeth as examples of human being self corruption through letting our

natural call of the wild come through. Leadership can never come in second place

and is only held by the first. These characters, after realizing the idea of

kill or be killed, will do anything, even acts of inhumanity, to advance and

come out on top. This with the combination of other factors simply blind folds

our minds into thinking that we must always come out victorious. All the values

and mores that society has taught us have been wiped away simply with the

illusion, internal animal characteristics, that we must strive, in any way we

can, to be in the position of leadership. Physical examples like Jack killing

Piggy and the slaying of Banquo by Macbeth are models of how people can be

temporarily blinded by jealousy, envy, and fear. Authors, trying to prove that

human beings see their own eventual downfall by using such devices as

apparitions and ghost to remind us we are human. Apparitions haunted Macbeth, in

the same way our conscious come into play when we know we have violated the

values set up by society. This realization of doing wrong only makes some humans

to more unexpected things. In a way, they become frightened of returning to

human values. This is actually the beast in us that does not want to be

repressed. In lord of the flies we see that this animal or if you want to call

it savagery, in human beings, can be visible in even innocent children. Fear

drives many of these children to act very different sometimes even aware that

one would never do such things. This fear was brought on by the illusion that a

stronger more dominant beast was on the island as well. Jacks animal instinct is

brought out with the feeling of being second to Jack and most of the supposed

beast. This is why he insists on hunting rather then working on a plan to be

rescued. Jack will not tolerate being in second. Sometimes these feeling can not

be pushed away and only seem to worsen. This is seen by the fact that Jack is no

longer hunting to survive but for the thrill of knowing he has the power to kill

that which is less then him. His animalistic characteristics only seem to get

worse. Going from killing to survive, killing to know you have the power, and

finally the murder of human beings. We see that Jack is now making excuses for

the quick high of know he is number one and in total control. He kills Simon

claiming he thought it was the beastie. Truly the fact that they dance around

like savages and never stop think is prove that the beast in Jack has finally

taken over his mind. The authors of Lord of the Flies and Macbeth attempt to

show us that hope is not lost. Obvious devices as apparitions doubling as our

conscience mind display that human beings can over come the regression to

savagery and to face the fact that we all have a simple yet powerful dark side.