Heart Of Darkness by Joseph Conrad was published in 1901. It is a short novel based oncolonization. It takes part in the Congo, Africa. LORD OF THE FLIES by WilliamGolding was published in 1954. It is a novel based on adolescent boys & kids lost on adeserted island and there struggle to survive in the wilderness. It is not to say the least, asimple adventure story. In fact, the implications of the story go far beyond thedehumanization of a few boys."What is the-' Truth' in the Heart of Darkness & Lord of The Flies?"The 'Truth' is Humanity-it is an attempt to trace the defects of society back to the defectsof the human nature.In the Heart of Darkness, Conrad used Kurtz as a main character to introduce the'truth' to his readers. Kurtz was an exceptional man; he was the best agent andwas of great importance to the company. Yet, he l ...view middle of the document...
In Heart of Darkness Pg 76-77, Marlow states:"Some thing big appeared in the air....free my eyes from his gaze".The boat was suddenly attacked by natives firing arrows. They killed Marlow's nativehelmsman before Marlow sounded the whistle and frightened them away.In Lord of Flies Pg 139:"The circle became.... teeth and claw". "Then the clouds.... already its blood wasstaining the sand."In these lines, Jack and his tribe killed Simon, thinking that he is the beast. Every childthat was present in the 'feast' witnessed the slaughter, but no one was able to stop the'wild hunters'. Both these references form images that give the readers the exactdescription of what happened.The novel Heart of Darkness takes place in the jungles of Congo, Africa. Were asthe Lord of Flies takes place on a deserted island, were no adult is available toguide the children. Both the settings are appropriate because there is no third partyto intervene in their affairs."Was there a hope-a light in the immense darkness for Marlow and Ralph ...?"In the Heart of Darkness Pg 131:The director said suddenly:"We have lost the first of the ebb"It was supposed that Marlow and his fellow mates are going up stream to colonize.The significance of losing the ebb is that they are not going up river and hence not goingto colonize. This gives Marlow a hope.In Lord of Flies Pg 182:"He staggered to his feet..." "A naval officer stood on the sand... astonishment".Ralph was being hunted by Jack and his tribe, when a naval officer appears from nowherethis increased Ralph's hopes for survival. The whole novel is symbolic in nature exceptwhen an adult life appears in the end, dexterous and stable. The officer had broken up aman-hunt and prepares to take the children with him.The truth is that there are many flaws in human nature and we should mend it.Both Conrad and Golding have done a fabulous job in conveying their ideas to thereaders."How does this truth affect us.........?"
