Following a plane crash at the start of the novel, a group of schoolboys finds itself stranded on a desert island. With no adults in sight, the boys must find a way to not only attract help but to survive for however long they’re stuck on the island. Three guesses what happens next. Yep—while the boys may start off civilized, things don’t stay that way for long. We’re not just talking about a schoolyard tussle, either: when order breaks down, it does so with a bang.
The thing is, it’s not just practical matters (like building a hut) that the boys have to deal with. There are monsters, boy band (well, tribe) rivalries, you name it. Golding certainly isn’t scared to get into the dark, psychological stuff, and it’s the power dynamics between the boys that really set this novel apart.
What role does signification play in establishing the power relations that play such a big role in this novel?
The boys are a long way away from civilization and seemingly regress to a more animalistic state. Does this mean that they become disconnected from culture altogether? How does that sort of disconnect change the sign system in which they operate?