Alienation in Lord of the Flies by William Golding and The Beach by Alex Garland

Abstract

The alienation of man is considered as one of the most fundamental themes in both old and contemporary literature. Alienation is a result of wars and social problems taking place in the modern era, in which individuals feel estranged and separated from their social network, family, work and even their own self. Alienation further contributes to the struggle for recognition, anxiety, savagery and madness. In this context, two novels, Lord of the Flies and The Beach, were suggested as a field of study in which different states of alienation are compared, one is voluntary and the other is involuntary, both of which contribute to the same results. This study is a good opportunity to delve into the examination of what is really meant by feeling alienated in a remote setting, where social rules and civilisation are absent, observing how the characters fall into savagery and primitive state. objectives are first to prove that nature does not protect individuals, and that social rules are necessary to establish order. This dissertation is based upon the use of analystical mode of research that suits the study of literary works. It includes library sources and articles. Moreover, through this study, the types of alienation, the reasons for alienation, and the effects of alienation are demonstrated. Additionally, this research shows how alienation contributes to the decline of morals to conclude that social rules are necessary to establish peace within a given society