Literature in English | TSL1034

LECTURER: Pn Patricia Ann Faiz @ Faridah Bt. Aziz

GROUP MEMBERS: Muhammad Miezwar b. Mat Salleh

Mohd Nurhelmi Izzat b. ZakariaFelix Fenelon Francis

Power

Power of Influence

Definition:The effect that somebody/something has on the way a person thinks or

behaves or on the way that something works or develops

OXFORD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, 8th Edition (2010)

Good vs. Evil

• Good influence and evil influences1. Jack gave up his civilised nature in order to gain savage nature, all for the

sake of a personal gain.

2. The boys’ instincts made them value strength and outward appearance instead of intelligence thus they see him as a weakling and therefore refuse to listen to him.• When Ralph suggests the same idea as Piggy, the boys would rather listen

to Ralph that Piggy. (To keep the fire lit)

Good and Evil

Influence of evil (Beastie)

• The boy with a mulberry-colored mark on his face claimed to have seen a snakelike “beastie” or monster.

• Started something that was non-existent in the first place - Fear

• Influenced the other boys, especially Jack, to become more savage like. Eventually led to the death of Simon and made Jack lie about the powers of the beast.

• It also gave Jack leverage over the other boys by using the fear of the beast.

Beastie’s significance in Today’s World

• “Beastie” in the story is used to represent fear

Definition:The bad feeling that you have when you are in danger, when something

bad might happen, or when a particular thing frightens you

OXFORD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, 8th Edition (2010)

• Jack has used this fear to gain control over the boys.• He tortures Sam and Eric, forcing them to submit to Jack’s authority

• In today’s world:• Large Countries : uses fear to threaten other smaller countries and

dominating them• Religion : uses fear to control the minds of their followers• Entertainment : pressures us into doing something and we do it out of fear• Parent : uses fear to control a child’s behaviour.

• The misuse of power of influence can be fatal.

The Good in Bad

• Maybe fear is what we need

• No law, More criminals

Influence of Good (The Conch)

The Good Influence

• The conch

• Represents democracy (Bureaucracy)

• Promotes civilisation and peace (supposedly)

Simon, Piggy and The Conch

• Simon represented a perfect human. • Under pressure, he kept his cool and his mind was not as stimulated as the

other boys• However, as a normal human, at a certain point of dehydration and tiredness,

psychosis and hallucinations can occur.• In the story, Simon struggles with the beast

• The conch is the perfect democracy.• Whoever had the conch had the right to speak• Likewise, whoever had the power, has the right to speak

• Piggy had the intelligence• His ideas, his words, his mind was of intelligence• In any leadership, intelligence is required• One fatal mistake and the system collapses

The Conch - The Power

• Whoever had the conch was allowed to speak.

• Imagine, if there was no conch and the boys were just having a normal conversation - the beast would be disregarded

• However when the boy with the birthmark had the conch and spoke - fear stroke into the hearts of the boys

The Bad in Good

• Due to man’s greed and evilness

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s true character, give or take his power away

~ Abraham Lincoln

From Boys to Men

On the island, in a country

Is there no difference?

Why boys?

Conclusion/Discussion

• Is there more evil in man than good?

• Is evil a much easier value to bring out and practice than good?

• William Golding’s book is a big critic on the modern day political system. Indirectly, it shows the ugly nature of humans be it young or old, male or female. Humans are evil, as portrayed in the novel.

• However, the ending is significant because after all the shenanigans on the island, the boys regretted of what happened on the island.

• The regret and guilt is what awaits those who constantly do evil consciously and do not repent.

Power, use it wisely

…Thank you…

References and sources

• Democracy• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy#History

• Quotes• http://eagleman6788.wordpress.com/2012/05/31/to-test-a-mans-character-give-him-power-

or-take-his-power-away/

• Images from• http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/

Antique_Japanese_horagi_(conch_shell_trumpet).JPG• Nickelodeon (2011), Season 3 Episode 12

http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130420195146/spongebob/images/8/84/Patrick_%26_Spongebob_holding_The_Magic_Conch_Shell.jpg