The Islanders in "The Lord of the Flies"
The islanders in "The Lord of the Flies" are in a condition of political society. A jet carrying a group of people from Britain is shot on a barren tropical island at the start of the film. People gather in the desert to elect a leader and make rescue arrangements. Ralph and Jack decide to explore the uninhabited island in search of a way out. Unfortunately, instead of concentrating on their plans to escape the island, they become carried away, and flames engulf the island (Golding, 102). The lads like spending time alone in the forest with parental authority. They are happy that they can make their decisions. The incident forces them to become adults. Locke asserts that everyone is equal and has an inherent right to freedom. The reason why people are subject to their parents is that they are born without reason and this is a tool that people use to survive in the state of political society.
One Day, the Ship Passes By
One day, the ship passes by the horizon, and they notice it. The fire they lit to signal them burned out, and they were stuck. They are terrified of what will become of them if they continue staying on the island. According to Locker, a person is under the powers of their parents until the age of twenty one to be a position to operate independently. Someone attains freedom when they become responsible for things and people around them. Locke has an issue with equating paternal power to monarchical power. He states that if they were changed to parental powers to incorporate mothers, people would not mistake parental powers with political powers. The two forms of power are different and should not be used to concurrently. Individuals gain freedom from paternal power when they are old enough to operate as individuals. Until then, they remain under parental powers. Political powers have different benchmarks. In chapter seven, Locke describes the social, and differences between men and women. He brings the concept of conjugal society, and states that it is different from a political society. In power, housemasters have total power over everyone, although it is not absolute. It lacks the power of death and life. Moreover, he describes the civil society as one system of people whose property is protected by executive powers. Hence, the Commonwealth brings together legislative powers to institute laws and employ executive powers to turn them into actions. Chapter seven ends with Locker explaining how absolute monarchy contradicts the principles (Locke, 201). It does not put authority over everyone, and the whole system suffers as a result. Since a monarch has powers to infringe on people's welfare without warning, people lack the safety and comfort to assure commonwealth. To overcome the imbalance of power, there is a need for the executive and the legislative organs to work together. Hence, no one's needs surpass the laws of the commonwealth.
Although the Boys Agreed to Work Together
Although the boys agreed to work together to find a solution out of the forest, wrangles soon ensure. It appears two people want to be declared leaders, further indicating a political climate they are in. Ralph and Jack disagree on several issues and find it difficult holding meaningful discussions. Ralph, who is jealous of Jack's powers, tells other people to put efforts in hunting food, as opposed to listening to what they are told. The political climate gets heated when they fail to find a way of leaving the forest or starting the fire. Jack says Ralph is a coward Locker argues that the guiding principle in a civil society should be the majority and when joining, people submit themselves to the majority. They agree to abide by the regulations and policies made by the majority. He tackles two arguments countering the model. He starts by discussing the lack of historical precedence. He agrees that there are numerous cases of absolute power, but points that the society tends to forget their origins. The beginning of a society is dependent on the consent of the society. He puts credibility on the historical accuracy of individuals working together and being subject to the majority rule. Since people are born under some form of government, they lack freedom and can decide to work together to change the government. Although an individual can decide to bind him/herself to a given government, they cannot bind their children since they are born free and can decide what is right from wrong. At times, people give up their freedom to become part of a society to have protection, estates, and liberties. Nature lacks certain things which are important, such as settled, established, and common laws (Locke, 201). To have these three elements, people need to give up their natural rights and fight for the cause. They should be willing to give up the right to do as they please within the constraints of nature.
The More the People Stay on the Island
The more the people stay on the island, the more they lose control of the situation. Simon is the only one who is willing to work Ralph to build a fire. In the book, Locker asserts people's unwillingness to work together for the common good and instead, they prefer fighting over power. The hunger for power makes people ignore what they need to do for their good. In the film, Jack is portrayed as a power-hungry individual, who talks ill of Ralph just because he was not elected as the leader. Due to division, it is impossible for them to get out of the island. Eventually, the small conflict ceases to be minor as those tasked with starting and maintaining the fire forgoes their duties and join the other camp. As a result of this, they miss out on a ship. They were carried away by the hunt that they forgot about the fire. They only realized after a ship passed them. At that point, they started blaming each other. In the book, Locker argues that if caution is not taken and rules established, power can be detrimental to the people. After the ship passed them, things get out of hand, and Jack punches Piggy and breaks the lens of his glasses. Eventually, they are divided into two groups; some follow Jack and others remain with Ralph. Things go downhill at this moment, and everyone is confused.
Those in the Island Are in a Political State
Those in the island are in a political state and due to constant quarrels and confusion; they remain in the forest for a long time. Those tasked with lighting fire to alert them when a ship passes forgo their duties, and a ship passes them unaware. In the book "The Second Treatise Government," Locker explains different forms of power and why they matter.
Work Cited
Golding, William. "Lord of the Flies. 1954." New York: Berkley (1959). 102
Locke, John. Second Treatise of Government: An Essay Concerning the True Original, Extent and End of Civil Government. John Wiley & Sons, 2014, 201
