Modern events, such as the recent use of chlorine gas in Syria, show that even with a civilized culture not too far away, people can still return to wild and primitive desires for power. and authority (Hubbard 1). William Golding depicts these same ideas in his novel, Lord of the Flies, only Golding depicts these natural desires with English schoolchildren stranded on a tropical island paradise. In William Golding's Lord of the Flies, civilization and savagery play contrasting roles and are represented by a number of different symbols, including people, places, and objects (Koopmans 70). William Golding was born on September 19, 1911 in St. Columb Minor, United Kingdom. His parents were Alec Golding and Mildred Golding. Alec Golding was an educator and had written numerous textbooks on a variety of different subjects. Her mother, Mildred Golding, was a women's rights activist. Golding grew up fascinated by literature and he became a teacher in 1939 at Bishopworth School. Golding later served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War, where he discovered the evil that lives in the heart of man, one of the main topics covered in his most successful novel, Lord of the Flies. William Golding died on June 19, 1993 (William Golding). In Lord of the Flies, many symbols illustrate ideas of the contrasting roles of civilization and savagery. In this allegory, William Golding uses Ralph to describe the idea of ​​law and order, and he uses Piggy to describe the rational thinking and judgment of an adult (Koopmans 75-76). These two roles are very important in the story because at the end of the book, Piggy and Ralph are the only boys who still behave in a civilized manner, and they are the only hope for the boys to return to the country. .. middle of paper ......ion. Flight. 94. Detroit: Gale, 2004. Information Resource Center. Internet. February 26, 2014. Koopmans, Andy. “Critical analysis of the novel”. Understanding Lord of the Flies. Farmington Hills: Lucent, 2003. 69-85. Print. Understanding great literature. Spitz, David. “Power and Authority: An Interpretation of Golding’s “Lord of the Flies.” » The Antioch Review 30.1 (Spring 1970): 21-33. Rep. in contemporary literary criticism. Ed. Roger Matuz and Cathy Falk. Flight. 58. Detroit: Gale Research, 1990. Literary Resource Center. Internet. February 26, 2014. “William Golding.” Authors and artists for young adults. Flight. 44. Detroit: Gale, 2002. Biography in Context. Internet. February 26, 2014. Woodward, Kathleen. “The Case for Strict Law and Order.” Readings on Lord of the Flies. Ed. Clarice Swisher. San Diego: Greenhaven, 1997. 88-95. Print. The Greenhaven Press Literary Companion to British Literature.