What metaphors and similes does William Golding, use in the book, Lord of the Flies, to describe man's inherent evil?i am writing this paper on how...

Perhaps it would be best to
think in terms of symbols rather than similes and
metaphors.  When researching your paper you will find an abundance of information about
the symbolism used in The Lord of the Flies (LOTF). Many of these
symbols go right to the heart of your question. They are used by Golding to communicate
a central theme of LOTF, a theme which relates to the
dark and savage places in the heart of every man.

The society of
boys in the LOTF is a major symbol used by Golding.
The boys are a metaphor for “the real world” so to speak, and it is important to note
that this group of seemingly innocent youngsters end their time on the island in full
scale war. Golding seems to be telling his reading audience that even in
the hearts of children there exists a dark presence, one that leads them
to hunt and kill each other. These boys haven’t been taught to kill, they just do it
naturally.

Another glaringly large symbol of the dark heart
of man is “the beast”. The beast does not exist.  The beast
only lives in the darkest fears of these children. It exists only in the dark hearts and
minds of these very average, wholesome and healthy young boys. By making these children
the authors of such a horrific idea, Golding presents us with the arresting notion that
fear, dark imagination and the capacity for evil are an inextricable part
of mankind’s existence.

Other symbols you
may also want to consider include the title character, “the lord of the
flies”, and “the scar” in the
jungle.