Lord of the Flies is a prominent novel in many readers’ lives. I remember reading it for the first time in high school and honestly, it was one of my favorites. It was an interesting take on the aspect of governance, especially in the hand of school-aged boys stranded on an island. And as I am now in college, this book still holds a special place in my heart for one reason or another. So, as an avid music listener and book lover, to celebrate Lord of the Flies publication date, I am going to pair the main characters of the novel with songs I think fit their personalities.
Ralph: “Run Boy Run” by Woodkid
Elected the leader, it is up to Ralph to try and create a cohesive governing system on the island. But, as his own schoolmates turn against him, things turn deadly. It is up to Ralph to not only stay aware, but try to save the boys from certain demise. I feel as though “Run Boy Run” fits the idea that Ralph must fight to keep himself and his group alive.
Jack: “Hellfire” from The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Jack wants power because as one of the older boys, he feels it belongs to him, much like Esmerelda is to Claude Frollo. And whilst the underlying tones may prove to be unfitting, the overall idea seems to fit Jack’s crave for power and what he is willing to do to obtain it.
Piggy: “Dirty Paws” by Of Monsters and Men
I love Piggy. And I fully think that the overall vibe, and even the lyrics, fit Piggy perfectly. It is kind and soft and also incredibly deep when you truly listen to and follow along with the lyrics. A beautiful song, for a beautiful character.
Simon: “Neptune, The Mystic” from Holst’s The Planets
I struggled with this one. Simon is the epitome of civilization and science and represents the world in which the boys were previously a part of. I also love Gustav Holst’s “The Planets” and as I was looking at some of the speculations for each piece, “Neptune” fit incredibly well: “Neptune signifies the moments when the mortal self seems to fall away and one is face to face with the eternal spirit. We are on our own. It is the mystic gaze.” (holsttheplanets.com).
Roger: “Night of the Hunter” by Thirty Seconds to Mars
I mean, it’s kind of in the song title. I would go as far as to say Roger was more violent than Jack. And as Jack’s “lieutenant” he did a LOT of messed-up things. Roger’s violence does not fit society and things he did on the island should stay on the island, but it just…it would be very uncomfortable to continue living the way you did, knowing what happened when you were stranded.
SamnEric: “Crossfire” by Stephen
The twins. This was also a difficult one, considering you have to do it for two people at once. They are separate entities, but their entire story revolves around one another. I chose “Crossfire” because of the vibe and because of the lyrics. They wreaked chaos–they switched sides halfway through because they let Jack, who tried to play God, get the better of them. They were, if you may, “caught in the crossfire.”
In conclusion, the characters of Lord of the Flies went through much more, as children, than anyone should have. It was a very deep, intuitive novel that really showed the side to “ruling” that many people often miss, and as I said to start, it had an impact on a generation of readers.
Happy publication day, Sir William Golding.