The Destructive Potential of Human Nature: A Comparative Analysis of Good and Evil in William Golding's Lord of the Flies (1954) and The Inheritors (1955)

This research paper highlights good versus evil as a central focus in William Golding's novels Lord of the Flies (1954) and The Inheritors (1955). In Lord of the Flies, a group of boys stranded on a deserted island must confront their inner demons as they struggle for survival, ultimately succumbing to the darker aspects of their nature. Similarly, in The Inheritors, a group of Neanderthals is faced with the arrival of a more advanced human race, leading to a clash of cultures and a tragic ending. Through these two novels, Golding explores the destructive potential of human nature and how our inherent flaws and weaknesses can lead to violence and cruelty. At the same time, he also suggests the possibility of redemption and the potential for individuals to resist their darker impulses, providing a glimmer of hope in an otherwise bleak and uncompromising view of human nature. The theme of good and evil is a prominent and pervasive element in Golding's fiction. In novels such as Lord of the Flies and The Inheritors, Golding portrays the destructive potential of human nature, as individuals and groups are driven to acts of violence and cruelty. The title suggests the destructive potential of human nature and emphasizes the comparative Analysis that will be conducted between the two novels. It also leaves room for exploring the nuances of how Golding portrays good and evil in each work and how they relate to his overall view of human nature.