The Lord of the Flies

I haven't seen the 1990 version, but I'm using the 1963 version for my class. I chose this film on a whim--the instructor who taught this class before I did used it, and, as much as I wracked my brains, I couldn't come up with anything that I thought would be better. (Which is surprising, right? You would think that a lot of films would explore the nature of men and their relationship to political society with state of nature themes. Maybe I just haven't watched enough Westerns/Science Fiction.)

But the Lord of the Flies is fascinating to think about in relation to Hobbes and Locke. The boys, stranded on an island after a plane crash, immediately move to form a political order characterized by discussion, democratic voting, and symbols of authority (the conch shell is passed around to designate the right of a person to speak and be listened to). It doesn't take long for the boys to regress and become savage. They wear fewer clothes, love the bloody hunt, and even have a wild fire ritual, which results in the death of one of themselves.

The film contrasts political and military rule. Under political rule, the contributions and wisdom of one of the weakest and wisest citizens, Piggy, can be appreciated. As can the almost religious/prophetic wisdom of Simon. Jack's warrior/hunter rule provide a stark contrast: he has a tribe, whereas Ralph had an assembly. 

Another difference between Ralph's regime and Jack's is the emphasis on names. Piggy immediately seeks to identify each person--knowing their names is important. (Ironically, he is almost immediately renamed on the island in a pejorative way: first, "Fatty"; then, "Piggy.") In Jack's tribe, on the other hand, the boys' identity is obscured--their faces are painted with tribal paint, and Jack begins to wear a mask.

The emergence of the rumors of the beast and the beast itself continue the theme of masking: Jack, whose rule relies on the fear of the unknown, of the beast, encourages the rumors. He maintains that you never know how the beast will look when it comes, that it can even come looking like one of their own. This creates the atmosphere of fear that allows Jack to gain and expand power. Ralph's regime, on the other hand, emphasizes transparency--Simon says both that the beast is them and that they need to climb the mountain and see the beast. These are the truest lines in the film and the solution that is needed, although ignored. The boys both need to acknowledge the potential for evil within themselves, and they need to face the unknown without fear.