| aimia_m_essaywrite_request | Write an essay |
| What topic | With reference to the ways Golding presents Roger, show how far you agree that he is evil. |
| Which subject | English |
| What age group | College |
| How many pages | 3 |
| Add references | |
| Any other preferences |
William Golding wrote Lord of the Flies to illustrate his thoughts about human nature and how it relates to social order. The novel portrays a group of British boys stranded on an uninhabited island who try to create a civilization. In the course of their time on the island, the boys gradually become more savage and less civilized. One of the characters, Roger, is developed as the epitome of evil. This essay argues that with reference to the ways Golding presents Roger, his evilness is inarguable.
From the outset, Roger is portrayed as a character with an innate disposition towards sadism. This is evident when he throws stones at the littluns on the beach. When Golding introduces Roger in chapter one, he notes that "there was a space around Henry, perhaps six yards in diameter, into which he dare not throw" (Golding 16). From this description, it is clear that Roger enjoys his power over Henry. Later, in chapter four, when the boys are working on the shelters, Roger has an opportunity to drop a boulder on Henry, but he holds himself back. This indicates that Roger enjoys the idea of causing harm to others and is not held back by a sense of morality.
In chapter eight, after Jack and his tribe kill the sow, they mount its head on a spike as a gift to the beast on the mountain. When Simon, who has already discovered that the beast does not truly exist, arrives at the scene, the tribe mistakes him for the beast and attacks him. During the attack, Roger shoves his spear into Simon's chest, killing him. Roger's role in Simon's death highlights his sadistic tendencies, as he deliberately uses the opportunity to cause harm to an innocent person.
Towards the end of the novel, Roger descends into utter savage behavior. This is apparent when he ties up Samneric and prepares to kill them. Golding writes, "Roger, with a sense of delirious abandonment, leaned all his weight on the lever" (Golding 186). This scene illustrates how the formerly civilized Roger has become so consumed by savagery that he feels no guilt in setting up a trap to kill his fellow human beings.
In conclusion, Golding presents Roger as a character who is innately evil. His sadistic tendencies, his role in Simon's death, and his descent into savagery all attest to this conclusion. Roger serves as a warning about the potential that every human being has to become evil in the absence of social order. By portraying Roger in this way, Golding demonstrates his belief that the human condition is inherently flawed and susceptible to darkness and evil.