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Kill the pig! Cut his throat! Kill the pig! Bash him in!
William Golding
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote represents the primal instincts of humanity, showcasing violence and chaos when civilization breaks down.

In William Golding's 'Lord of the Flies', the intense cry to 'kill the pig' symbolizes the descent into savagery and the loss of innocence when societal norms are stripped away. It reflects the internal struggle between civilized behavior and base instincts, highlighting the duality of human nature and the potential for brutality that exists within us all.

Themes

ViolenceSavageryHuman NatureSocietyChaos

In practice

Example use cases

During a discussion on the nature of humanity, this quote can highlight the darkness within individuals.

More from William Golding

Consider a man riding a bicycle. Whoever he is, we can say three things about him. We know he got on the bicycle and started to move. We know that at some point he will stop and get off. Most important of all, we know that if at any point between the beginning and the end of his journey he stops moving and does not get off the bicycle he will fall off it. That is a metaphor for the journey through life of any living thing, and I think of any society of living things.
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Maybe, he said hesitantly, maybe there is a beast. The assembly cried out savagely and Ralph stood up in amazement. You, Simon? You believe in this? I don't know, said Simon. His heartbeats were choking him. [...] Ralph shouted. Hear him! He's got the conch! What I mean is . . . maybe it's only us. Nuts! That was from Piggy, shocked out of decorum.
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The mask was a thing on it's own, behind which Jack hid, liberated from shame and self-conciousness.
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Man produces evil as a bee produces honey.
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Utopias are presented for our inspection as a critique of the human state.
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Quote by William Golding | QuoteProject