Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and Lord of the Flies by William Golding both explore the dark side of human nature when individuals are stripped of societal norms and expectations. Both novels explore themes of inner darkness through their characters, settings, external and internal conflicts. In Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein’s creation of a monster and bring catastrophe highlight the consequences of his ambition and abandonment. Conversely, Lord of the Flies portrays a group of boys stuck on a deserted island, whose descent into savagery under Jack’s leadership. This essay will examine the similarities and differences between the two novel in their portrayal of feelings related to disasters and leadership, their behaviors, and the depiction of the dark side of human nature.
In both Frankenstein and Lord of the Flies, characters experience profound transformations in their emotions related to leadership or disaster. In Frankenstein, Victor's initial ambition and excitement in creating life quickly turn to horror and fear upon seeing his creation. Victor says: "The beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart. Unable to endure the aspect of the being I had created, I rushed out of the room." Similarly, Ralph’s initial dominance and the semblance of order he brings are challenged as Jack seizes power. Before Jack’s rise, Ralph serves a symbol of leadership and order: "There was a stillness about Ralph as he sat that marked him out: there was his size, and attractive appearance; and most obscurely, yet most powerfully, there was the conch." After Jack’s takeover, the boys changes quickly to a loss of order and the emergence of savagery, Both stories illustrate how shifts in leadership or the handling of disaster lead to catastrophic outcomes.
The behavioral responses of characters in both novels further reveal the inner evil. In Frankenstein, Victor’s behavior changes dramatically once he witnesses the consequences of his ambition. Before the monster’s creation, Victor is proud of his work: "After days and nights of incredible labor and fatigue, I succeeded in discovering the cause of generation and life; nay, more, I became myself capable of bestowing animation upon lifeless matter." However, upon realizing the monster’s horrifying appearance, Victor abandons it and later hides the truth about the creature’s actions, "A thousand times rather would I have confessed myself guilty of the crime ascribed to Justine; but I was absent when it was committed, and such a declaration would have been considered as the ravings of a madman and would not have exculpated her who suffered through me." In contrast, Jack’s behavior on the island exemplifies his ruthlessness. Initially, Ralph’s leadership is challenged when Jack begins to act violently, "He began to dance and his laughter became a bloodthirsty snarling."
Both Frankenstein and Lord of the Flies explore on the dark side of human nature through their depictions of ambition, violence, and the abandonment of civilization. In Frankenstein, Victor’s ambition to surpass the natural order leads him to create life, but he is unable to handle the consequences, which is a neglect of responsibility. This neglect, coupled with his desire for perfection, drives him to reject his creation and hide the truth: "His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of a pearly whiteness; but these luxuriances only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes." Similarly, in Lord of the Flies, Jack’s ambition and desire for power also lead to the abandonment of civilized behavior, "The thing is—fear can’t hurt you any more than a dream." The boys’ descent into violence reflects a neglect of the rules and moral codes they once valued. Both novels illustrate how civilization can easily crumble under the weight of ambition and other external pressures.
In conclusion, Frankenstein and Lord of the Flies both offer compelling explorations of the dark side of human nature, particularly through their feeling of leadership or disaster, their behaviors during crises, and the intrinsic evil. Victor Frankenstein’s ambition and fear at his own creation reveal the consequences of unchecked scientific pursuit and the neglect of responsibility. Meanwhile, Jack’s rise to power and the boys’ descent into savagery on the island highlight the fragility of civilization. Both novels ultimately criticize on the inherent darkness within humanity, suggesting that the true monster lies within.
Comments