Earlier this year, I became government. Every day for the next few days, I woke up before sunrise and filled my hotel room with light. In professional attire, I walked the halls of the California State Capitol and the Assembly Chamber. I was able to see for myself how the administration of our company works. One day, a cloudy day with rain falling momentarily, a protest gathered in the streets. A man spoke up, asking the government to remove his mask. I didn't understand. What did this man want? Deep within me, I knew that a life of terror, a life of darkness, and a life of despair could only be the result of no government. This ideal is explained by the classic novel, Lord of the Flies by William Golding, which explores the universal theme that civilization is significant, in terms of its role in ensuring that man does not return to his primitive nature of savagery . While the boys stranded on the Islands begin with a plan to maintain order. Over time, they face conflicts that eventually put an end to their civilized ways. Initially, Ralph, the presumed leader, led a democratic-style process on the island; however, later in the story, Jack, one of the boys, realizes that there are no longer any consequences for their wrongdoing because there was no control. This speaks to the ideal that moral behavior is imposed on individuals by civilization and when left to their own devices, they revert to their basic instinct of savagery. Furthermore, there is a differentiation of beliefs which results in chaos, as some favor an uneducated way of life rather than an orderly structure. Opposing ideas are commonly known middle of paper ... and that civilization is vital to human life. In a way, our government wears a mask, that of civilization. A mask that hides our true instincts, can easily be removed, and is kept in hopes of a greater good. According to Golding's view of humanity, we are truly barbarians by nature; nevertheless, our mask has become an essential aspect of our lives, allowing us to achieve our common goals. We are left to wonder: will there come a time when this mask will be removed or possibly fall? Works Cited Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. New York: Penguin Group, 2006. Print. Pflanz, Mike. “The United States recognizes the Somali government after two decades of anarchy.” The Christian Science Monitor. CSMonitor, January 18, 2013. Web. January 23 2014. .