Summary of Lord of the Flies
Gunner Belcher
01/30/2026
Lord of the Flies is a novel by William Golding about a group of boys who get stranded on a
deserted island after their plane crashes. At first, they are excited to be free from adults and
school, but things quickly start to change. The boys, led by Ralph, try to create their own rules
and build a signal fire to get rescued. However, as time goes on, their sense of order begins to
break down.
As the boys explore the island, they encounter a mysterious creature they call the "beast." This
fear of the beast starts to take over their minds, and some boys, like Jack, become obsessed with
hunting and violence. Jack and his followers start to ignore Ralph’s leadership, and chaos begins
to unfold. The boys go from trying to work together to fighting and acting on their worst
instincts.
In the end, the boys' struggle for power leads to tragic consequences. They lose touch with their
humanity and become wild and savage. When a naval officer finally arrives and sees the chaos, it
makes the boys realize how far they have fallen from civilization. Lord of the Flies teaches us
about the darkness inside people and how easily civilization can fall apart when there are no
rules to follow.