Lord of the Flies is a story about young boys stranded on an island who must survive and form a society without adults. The book explores how the boys descend into savagery as they lose their civilized instincts and begin to act more like animals. It depicts their struggle for leadership between Ralph and Jack and how they turn against each other. While the story shows the incredible strength and determination of the boys to survive against adversity, the abrupt ending where they suddenly encounter a naval officer was disappointing. The book examines human instincts and the potential for humanity to revert to a violent, primitive state.