3 minute read
Lord of the Flies
Author Patrick Ness has been confirmed to pen the screenplay for Luca Guadagnino’s upcoming adaptation of Lord Of The Flies.
Advertisement
It was announced last year that Guadagnino would be directing the new Warner Bros. adaptation of William Golding’s popular 1954 novel.
Patrick Ness
Luca Guadagnino The book, which follows a group of British boarding school boys who are split into two groups after being stuck on a desert island without an authority figure, was made into a movie in 1963 by Peter Brook, and then again in 1990 by Harry Hook.
Given its popularity, it’s actually a little surprising that nobody has adapted Lord of the Flies for film or television in over three decades. But the dynamic duo of Guadagnino and Ness seems like an inspired choice to reimagine the novel for a twenty-first century audience, and though the tolerance people for child actors is low, it will be approached this adaptation with cautious optimism.
About the author
William Golding's 1954 novel Lord of the Flies has seen a handful of adaptations over the years, with the most recent being back in 1990. The classic story has influenced other stories about groups of misfits, and now it will be adapted for a new generation at Warner Bros. Pictures with a best-selling young adult author tackling the screenplay this time. Plot
The author of The Lord of the Flies, William Golding, was a British soldier in World War II. He was intensely impacted by his experiences and became convinced that within all humans exists the possibility of evil. His writing work, after his time in the war, reflected this idea. The Lord of the Flies was written post-WWII during what is known as the “atomic age. ” During this time, Western society lived in fear of nuclear attacks, which came to an initial rise at the end of WWII. The Cold War started developing between Russia and the United States as both countries engaged in a nuclear arms race. This had an intense effect for many people across the world, who had to live in constant fear of a nuclear bomb falling on them like it did in Japan at the end of WWII.
Civilization versus Savagery
The novel focuses on an internal human battle between the need for civilization and the countervailing drive toward savagery. The side that leans toward civilization feels the need or desire to live an ordered life guided by rules and a basic respect for others. The side that leans toward savagery is only interested in self-fulfillment of basic needs. This side is willing to use any means, including violence, to reach a desired goal.
Loss of Innocence
That innocence is illustrated by their reactions to the lack of adult supervision as well as on the island exploration walk that Ralph, Simon, and Jack take. At first, the boys look forward to having fun on the island until the adults come get them. As their time on the island grows longer, the boys change. With their long hair, unkempt bodies, and painted faces, the boys discover and act out different sides of themselves. Many of the boys develop bloodlust and ultimately commit terrible acts, including murdering Simon.
Nature of Evil
As the text demonstrates, Golding believed everyone has the capacity for inhumanity and evil. As the novel proceeds, it is easy to forget that the oldest of the protagonists is only 12 years old. They are not adults who have been fully socialized and can blame their evil on that socialization. Instead, they act on natural human impulses. As the Lord of the Flies, which represents this evil, says to Simon, you can't kill the evil within because it's part of you.
Rosa Maribel Hernández Muralles 199920335
