This document discusses post-modernism and how it relates to Lord of the Flies by William Golding. Post-modernism emerged after World War II in response to the horrors of war and skepticism of objective truths. It focuses on relative truths and interpretations over universal explanations. Golding was influenced by his experience in World War II and saw the capacity for violence and aggression in humans. Lord of the Flies examines the psychological disintegration of boys marooned on an island through symbols like Piggy representing reason and Jack representing evil instincts. The story critiques the human tendency towards savagery through its post-modernist lens.

1. POST-
MODERNISM
IN LORD
OF THE FLIES

2. Understanding
Post –
modernism
1945—present
• Post-modernism is the era post World War II, and the
Literature largely encompasses a response to the
horrors of World War II.
• Post-modernism is largely a reaction to scientific or
objective efforts to explain reality, based on the
position that reality is not what humans understand it
to be. However, is constructed as the mind tries to
understand its own personal reality.
• Post-modernism is skeptical of explanations that claim
to be valid for all groups, cultures, traditions, or races,
and instead focuses on the relative truths of each
person.
• In understanding postmodernism, interpretation is
everything. Reality is only through our own
interpretations of what the world means to us.
• Postmodernism relies on concrete experience over
abstract principles, arguing that the outcome of one's
own experience will relative, rather than universal.

3. Traits & Beliefs
In
Post-
modernism
• Post Modernists believe that nothing can explain
reality. They are also convinced that anything real does
not exist.
• Believes what may be true to one person may not be
true to another.
• Lacked Optimism of there being a scientific,
philosophical, or religious truth.
• All the hallmarks of postmodern literature—
fragmentation, stream of consciousness, loss of
identity—are attempting to mimic the traumatized
mind.

4. Understanding
why William
Golding is a
postmodernist
writer
Golding’s background provides an accurate perspective,
to understand his post-modernist views. Golding was an
active participant in the British Royal Navy Academy; as
veterans in World War II.
Aftermath of the war, significantly impacted Golding. As a
witness to the post war horrors, Golding stated his
experience made him witness what man was capable of
doing.
Lord of the Flies was Golding’s first published book- an
allegorical book about the nature of humanity. The book
reveals that men enjoyed violence, showing aggression
and violence particularly appealing to the humankind.

5. Lord Of The Flies
as a
Post-Modernist
Piece
The story plot itself is very simple. On the surface, it is
just a regular adventure story. The basis is a simple
adventure story of a group of boys who are trying to
survive on the deserted island after the shipwreck, much
like the story of Robinson Crusoe or the Treasure Island.
It examines psychological disintegration of characters; we
have a group of boys who are seen as representatives of
various patterns of behavior, various instincts and various
aspects of personality. All of them symbolize almost
allegorically one of these aspects. Each boy character
stands for a particular aspect of human behavior.
Golding’s writing deals a lot with humans’ savage instinct.
He highlights the negative behaviors and characteristic
that human posses. He saw many of these through his
experiences. Characters usually lack culture and tradition
and are more savage in nature.

6. Piggy stands for intelligence, reason and civilization. Piggy,
associated with pig is not negative quality, but just the
opposite, because pigs are believed to be intelligent
animals. His glasses reinforce this symbolism; he is the
character who analyses, looks under the surface of things.
Jack stands for evil and destructive instincts in human nature. He stands for the darkest drives within human beings. He is also very manipulative and charismatic person.
Ralph symbolizes a natural born leader, politician, statesman, capable of either good or bad, depending on a context in which he is placed.
Simon is a saint – like figure. Simon stands for honesty and decency; that is what makes him a saint–like figure. The author wants to show that such decency and honesty in our world strikes us as something out of place, something
naïve. He is a Jesus like figure.
Character Analysis in
a Post-modernist
context

7. By,
Sakina Ali Asghar
BS ENG V