Lord of the Flies- Part One Answers

2. One of the main points of this book is to look at the effects of authority, or the lack of authority, on people. The "society" that the boys created eventually begins to fall apart; do you think this is because of the leaders they chose (Ralph and Jack), or because of the situation they were in (meaning who their leaders were didn't matter)?

I personally believe that it was more the situation then the leaders they chose. Because no matter where you put little boy’s there always going to be exactly that, children who follow and don’t know how to lead. The leaders probably could of tried to take precautions to keep the ending from turning out as sad and broken as it did, but the leaders were still just kid’s themselves. Kid’s shouldn’t have to take that responsibility on there shoulders.


3. Suspend your rationale thinking for a moment, and imagine that the place you all know best involving established authority - school - is suddenly without teachers, Ms. Nadeau, etc. for an extended period of time (think weeks). What would happen?

If this event were to occur in real life, I would like to think and have others think that some students would step up and continue the schooling. But in reality, student’s would throw a party. They wouldn’t feel obliged to do any work, and some might not even go to school. If some students finished the work that they were given before teachers magically disappeared, then they wouldn’t know what to try and accomplish after that. There would be people running around through the hallway’s, making messes because they don’t have to clean them up, there would be chewed gum everywhere, and the bathrooms would end up being disgusting.