Lord of the Flies - Course Introduction

What if humans were born to behave in certain ways? What if our nature is determined at birth, and we don't get much of a say in whether we end up on the naughty or the nice list—or whether we're in Slytherin or Gryffindor?

In this class, we'll be digging into human nature as we read William Golding's infamous novel, Lord of the Flies. We'll be thinking a lot about a group of boys stranded on a desert island and deciding whether they are good people who are driven to evil by their environment or whether they're just little devils by nature (thanks a lot, genetics).

Ralph, Jack, and our other island friends will give us some interesting angles for thinking about human nature. While they start off with good intentions on the isolated island—even setting up a government system, a plan for escape, and a safe place to sleep at night—these well-intended plans quickly go downhill.

We'll also be perusing and writing about a lot of resources that discuss human nature in today's world; what are the risk factors for mob mentality? How does being behind the shield of a computer screen affect the way we behave online? Why do people do crazy things when they're surrounded by other people doing crazy things? What could be so dangerous about an island ruled by little boys?

Shmoopers, we're about to find out.

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