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Essay / The role of the superego in Lord of the Flies
In the novel “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding, a group of young boys find themselves stranded on an island without adult supervision. The boys must fend for themselves and figure out how to survive in this new environment. As the story progresses, the boys begin to form their own society and system of governance. However, as they become more and more savage, the concept of the superego becomes more and more important. In this essay, I will analyze the role of the superego in "Lord of the Flies" and how it affects the behavior of the characters. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay First of all, it is important to understand what the superego is. The Superego is one of the three parts of the psyche in Freudian psychology. It represents our sense of morality and is the part of our psyche that tells us what is right and wrong. It's the part of us that feels guilt or shame when we do something we know we shouldn't do. In "Lord of the Flies", the superego is represented by Simon, the most rational and generous character in the novel. Simon serves as the voice of reason in the novel and is the only character who truly understands what is happening in the world. island. He is the first to realize that the “beast” the boys are so afraid of is actually a projection of their own fears and insecurities. Simon's wisdom and insight are essential to the group's survival, but unfortunately the other boys don't seem to recognize or appreciate his contributions. The other characters in the novel, particularly Jack and his followers, represent the id. The id is the part of our psyche that is concerned with primal instincts and desires. He seeks immediate gratification and does not consider the consequences of his actions. Jack is obsessed with hunting and killing, and he is willing to do whatever it takes to satisfy his desire for power and control. His followers are just as violent and impulsive. Finally, the ego represents the part of our psyche that attempts to balance the needs of the id with the demands of the superego. The ego is our sense of self-awareness and personal identity. In "Lord of the Flies", the ego is represented by Ralph, who struggles to maintain order and maintain the unity of the group. He recognizes the importance of the rules and regulations they have established, but is unable to enforce them effectively. Throughout the novel, the conflict between the id and the superego plays out in several ways. The boys' descent into savagery can be seen as a failure of the superego. As they become more and more violent, they begin to lose touch with their moral sense. The idea of the "beast" serves as a projection of their own fears and insecurities, as they struggle to reconcile their primal instincts with their sense of right and wrong. As the story progresses, the importance of the superego becomes more and more evident. Simon's death represents the loss of the novel's only truly moral character, and the boys' behavior becomes even more savage and violent as a result. Without the Superego to guide them, they must succumb to their most primal instincts. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay In conclusion, the concept of the Superego is central to the plot of “Lord of the Flies.” William Golding uses the characters to represent the different parts of our psyche, and their interactions demonstrate the conflict..