The Island of Ironic Traps.

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The Island of Ironic Traps. Traveling by plane might kill! William Golding, the author of “Lord of the Flies,” tells his story in a very interesting way. He uses irony in a way that makes you stop and say “aha!” The irony in the novel forces the readers to step aside and think about the hidden meanings the author is trying to express. One of the main characters, Ralph, sees the irony in his situations. The first example of irony occurred in chapter two. Jack says to the group of young boys, "We've got to have rules and obey them. After all, we're not savages. We’re British and the British do everything the best. "(Golding, LOTF page32) “I ought to be chief ‘said Jack with simple arrogance,’ because I’m chapter chorister and head boy. I can sing C sharp.” (Golding 33)However, in the following chapters Jack is the leader of the tribe and encourages the boys to forget civilization and act upon their primitive instincts. They ignore the laws that they all have agreed to follow while on the island and commit heinous crimes against humanity, such as torture against both humans and animals, and murder. They no longer act like English schoolboys who are the best at everything, but like savages. There is irony in Piggy’s name. “They used to call me Piggy” (page2) The boys hunt, kill and eat pigs on the island. Not only do they kill the pigs, they enjoy it tremendously. Piggy’s name suggests that he will be a victim of the beast. Not the beast the boys on the island fear, but the beast within the boys themselves. The author is saying through Piggy that because they kill and eat the pigs they become the beast. Ralph prays to the adult world to send them something from the grownups: a sign. His prayer is answered by a dead parachutist, a casualty of war from the fighting going on in civilized society. The dead man is powerless to help the boys. Ironically he
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