William Golding, who won the Noble Prize for literature in 1983, is probably best known for his novel Lord of the Flies (1954). Although the novel is confined to the microcosm of a group of boys, it resounds with implications far beyond the bounds of the small island and explores problems and questions on ecology and the environment. In Lord of the Flies, Golding foregrounds the natural world, and in turn, sheds light on humankind's place within the environment. He tries to deconstruct the perceived conceptual dichotomies of man and nature, and culture and nature in an effort to re-imagine ourselves and understand ourselves in relation to nature. He suggests a new way of conceiving nature that may enhance the value that human societies place on it. |
