Lord of the Flies by William Golding
At the dawn of the next world war, a plane crashes on an uncharted island, stranding a group of schoolboys. At first, with no adult supervision, their freedom is something to celebrate. This far from civilization they can do anything they want. Anything. But as order collapses, as strange howls echo in the night, as terror begins its reign, the hope of adventure seems as far removed from reality as the hope of being rescued.
Challenges and Bans:
- Violence and brutality: The novel contains graphic depictions of violence, including hunting, bullying, and murder, which some find inappropriate for a school setting.
- Pessimistic view of human nature: Critics argue the book implies that humans are inherently evil or animalistic, a message some find demoralizing and unacceptable to teach.
- Profanity and “lurid passages”: The book has been challenged for its use of profanity and what some describe as “lurid passages about sex”.
- Racism and other “isms”: The novel’s language and themes have been called racist, while other critics point to alleged misogynistic and ableist implications.
- Controversial scenes: Specific scenes, such as the brutal killing of the sow and its piglets, are often cited as examples of the book’s disturbing content.