In "Lord of the Flies," William Golding tells the story using a third-person omniscient narrator, which means the narrator knows everything about all the characters. This helps the readers really understand what's going on in the story and see things from different points of view.
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Understanding the Characters: The narrator shares the feelings and thoughts of the boys on the island, like their fears, desires, and conflicts. By showing us what different characters are going through, like Ralph, Jack, and Piggy, we can better connect with their struggles. This makes it easier for us to relate to their experiences, as the book talks about themes like power, being savage, and losing innocence, which everyone can understand.
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Seeing Right and Wrong: Because the narrator knows what all the characters are thinking, we can also see how the boys change and how their behavior gets worse over time. Golding shows us their move into chaos and violence, which helps us think about their decisions. By hearing what characters like Ralph and Jack are thinking, we can consider if what they’re doing is right or wrong. This helps readers think critically about the boys’ actions and the choices they make in tough situations.
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Hints and Deeper Meaning: The narrator’s knowledge also allows for hints and symbols in the story. For example, the beautiful island can be seen as a symbol of nature, but as the boys become more savage, it also shows the dark side of human nature. This extra layer to the storytelling helps readers connect the dots and think about what happens to the characters and what the author is really saying about society and human behavior.
In conclusion, Golding’s choice of an all-knowing narrator keeps readers engaged because it gives us a deeper look at the characters and helps us think about their choices. This way of telling the story highlights important themes about human nature and how society can break down, making us think about what each character is doing as they face their wild and uncontrolled world.