About the Author

Influence of Childhood on Novel

There are many aspects of Golding’s childhood that could have been integral to the plot of Lord of the Flies, although one can’t be certain that anything in particular influenced the idea or the events of the novel.

Before grammar school, Golding loved reading books, and he has stated that the novel “Nat the Naturalist” by George Manville Fenn was his favorite during this time period. These adventures certainly could have sparked the basic premise behind his later novel, but this is highly unlikely. At Marlborough Grammar School, Golding, or “Bill”, as he was called back then, met boys who liked to be physical and gang up against the weak. Many have suggested that these real-life characters were replicated in the novel with Jack and Roger, although this theory seems almost too simple, considering the complexity of Lord of the Flies.

Golding was an avid reader all throughout his childhood, but he openly admits that he has never read some of what are considered American classics. During high school, Golding particularly loved Mark Twain, and he says his interest in Twain is one of the main factors that peaked his interest in writing. However, when questioned about the infamous “Heart of Darkness”, Golding openly admits that he has never read the classic by Joseph Conrad, even though there are many similarities between the two novels. This faulty comparison is evidence that even what may seem like a strong connection leads to a dead end.

Overall, many different critics and literary analysts have differing opinions on the influence of Golding’s childhood on the novel, although no one really knows the full truth of what influenced Lord of the Flies. Throughout interviews, Golding has stated that not a lot influenced the novel. He says that he simply wanted to recreate society in a group of young boys, and he wanted Ralph to fully understand how corrupted society was by the end of the adventure. The setting and background of the story were put in place purely so the boys wouldn’t be distracted by girls or adults, and could fully represent society as a whole. Even though it may seem like there are strong ties between Golding’s childhood and the novel, it is anyone’s guess as to what really influenced Lord of the Flies.