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The Role of Environment in William Golding’s selected Fictions

Deepanjali Karbhari Borse

Assist. Professor,

Department of English

S.P.H. Arts, Science, Comm. Mahila Mahavidyalaya,

Malegaon Camp (Nashik)

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Introduction

The word ‘Environment’ has come to play a central intellectual role in our present age. Degradation of environment tops the list of problems the world faces today. Ecocriticism functions as a tool that draws the attention of the world to crucial environmental issues through the forum of literature. Building a bridge between the world of man and world of green is becoming more and more important in today’s world. This paves way to a better understanding of what we aspire to be. Environment plays a vital role in the lives of the human beings. The ecosystem supports as well as affects physically, mentally and emotionally on human beings and their lifestyles.

The present study, “The Role of Environment in William Golding’s Selected Fictions” attempts an application of ecocritical theories to the chosen literary texts Lord of the Flies and Rites of Passage.

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Objectives of the Study

To examine the relationship between humans, animals and the environment in literary texts
To study the interconnectedness of man and the natural environment
To demonstrate how nature is presented in literature through eco criticism
The very fact that literature can not exist in a vacuum and that all creative activities take place on this earth where life exists, is reason enough for all literary environmental connections
Along with issues like racism and feminism, it is time for environmentalism to occupy center stage

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Research Methodology :

The present research is a descriptive survey study.

The methodology adopted for this research is primarily based on Library work. It includes reading of the original texts of William Golding’s Lord of the Flies and Rites of Passage..
The articles, research papers and critical comments on Ecocriticism and the works of William Golding are taken to be the reference material.

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Environment in Lord of the Flies

Setting of the novel is uninhabited coral island
Small & young boys as the characters
The island forms a ‘tiny’ world
Initially seems to be like Garden of Eden. Long scar symbolical for invasion of British men in it.
The boys exploit the nature for their needs
They establish their own civilized society but fails in it
Cultural relationship with the environment
Beautiful description of nature. Various shades of sun, earth, jungle are found in every chapter

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Cont….

All titles have the names of natural element
In order to survive on the island, boys explore the island, found it uninhabited and Ralph says, “all ours”- indicates possessiveness of Man for nature
The boys started to live on the island and establish their own culture. Though they were civilised but lack of resources make them to live like primitives
Environment helps the boys by providing everything (like fruits, water, swimming pool for getting comfort, pigs meat, wood for fire and shelter, coconuts for drinking water)
Simon got comfort in secret place, likes the company of nature
Golding personifies the nature many times in the text for eg. Generation of palms, trees of the forest sighed, then roared, Skull like coconuts, echo-witch like cry, the flames were mastering the branches etc.

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Environment in Rites of Passage

Setting is the old warship bound for Australia
Lower class people and upper class people. It forms a society on the ship
Talbot calls the old ship as a graveyard (due to risky voyage) Captain is called Noah
Talbot says, ‘poor fellow on higher sea’ reveals limitation of human being before nature
Talbot, an aristocratic young fellow initially found follies in the ship and people but his attitude changes up to the end of the novel
Talbot admires nature, passengers celebrates ceremony of sun, references of Pan, Sea Gods, Sea nymphs called as chill creatures
Beautiful description of sea voyage during day and night

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Cont…

Captain Anderson cultivates a garden on the ship, Talbot calls it as a ‘private paradise’
Discussion on garland plant used by the ancients and loss of innocence
Colley delineates beautiful nature, admires it and found solace in that environment (The air is warm and sometimes hot lays such a lively hand on us. The sea is brilliant as the tails of Juno’s birds(I mean the peacock) p.no. 187,189)
Golding personifies nature in the text

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Conclusion

Literature has close connection to nature/ environment
Golding selected coral island on the equator for Lord of the flies and tropical land for Rites of Passage so that he finely delineates the nature
Human life has close association with nature. Psychologists proves that man’s estrangement from nature causes alienation
Simon and Colley, both are religious in attitude. Simon as a Christ figure and Colley, a Parson, both have love for nature. Colley’s letters indicates his admiration for nature and Simon likes the company of nature
It reveals nature gives solace to the mind of these characters
Virgils Pastoral’s also show men as being oppressed by society but comforted by nature- applicable to Simon and Colley

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