Compare and Contrast about the theme Idealism vs. Reality
Both The lord of the Flies and Master Harold and the Boys are stories, which explore the theme of idealism vs. Reality. The Oxford Dictionary defines idealism as the theory that the essential nature of reality lays within good consciousness or reason. It defines reality as actual facts or the quality or state of being real. According to these definitions, the theme of Idealism vs. Reality can be explained as a theme which looks at the conflict between a world which is governed by model ethics and morals of the highest standards and the actual world, which in reality, is less that perfect. Both stories investigate this conflict by looking at the idealistic societies that the characters would like to live in and the harsher realities of the worlds with imperfect morals and social rules which they are ultimately forced to live in.
The characters in the book Lord of the Flies demonstrated this search for idealism against a backdrop, which is filled with unethical and unjust social practices. In the beginning of the book, the boys attempt to create their own little community where everyone has their own job to accomplish. They also construct rules they need to follow; Weve got to have rules and obey them. (42 Golding) The rules are put in place to help maintain order and justice within the community they are building. But in the end, the community doesnt turn out in the way some of the more idealistic characters expected it to. This shows the loss of idealism when faced with challenges presented by society. Such as mans selfishness, desire of power and corruption. In Lord of the Flies, the author, William Golding was trying to emphasize his point at the end of the book; the imperfections of mankind. It was shown when most of the boys were killing Simon. Everyone was screaming, Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood! (168 Golding) This is reflecting what can happen when human are left in the wilderness; they can become savages and only think about themselves. Even when Robert (one of the littluns on the island) was shouting Ow! Stop it! Youre hurting me! (125 Golding) When all the other boys were poking him with the butt end of the spear (125 Golding), they didnt care how Robert felt. All they cared about was them having fun. The action the boys performed was immoral and savage this provides evidence that shows the boys only think about themselves but not the others.
The character in the book Master Harold and the Boys also demonstrated the desire for idealism in the imperfect world. The two servants who works for Harold, Sam and Willie always talk about how elegant dancing is and mention how nice it would be if the world they are in right now could be just like ballroom dancing; A world without Collisions. (47 Fugard) This topic of discussion echoes the theme of Idealism Vs Reality as it explores the conflict between an idealistic world where there is no social injustice and the world filled with social discrimination that these two characters currently live in. The reality of their world is that, blacks are still discriminated against and very little black colored skin people are allowed to ballroom dance. This shows that in reality, there is still hate and racism and the apartheid between whites and blacks that make their world imperfect.
Although the two books, Lord of the Flies and Master Harold and the Boys demonstrated Idealism Vs. Reality in a different way. In the book Lord of the Flies the theme was demonstrated when the boys killed Simon and how they attempt to create their own little community where everyone has their own job to accomplish. On the other hand, in Master Harold and the Boys the theme was demonstrated when they talked about how the world without collision would be and the real world they are living in. Also, the settings of the two books are very different from each other. Master Harold and the Boys happened in St. Georges Park Tea Room on a wet and windy Port Elizabeth afternoon. (1 Fugard) Lord of the Flies took place in an island (9 Golding). Last but not least, Golding did not only show it through the characters' actions, also uses symbolism. The conch represents democracy, unity and peace in the idealistic way, but in realistic, it didnt work out at all, everything became dictatorship and at last, the conch was destroyed. Golding and Fugard was trying to use all the setting, the ways how the characters acts in the book and symbols to emphasize the same theme; Idealism Vs. Reality.
In conclusion the authors are trying to state is, we must face the fact that the reality isnt perfect like the world without collisions, nor it is the perfect community the boys thought about. Instead, its savage and cruel. People still get discriminated now a day for their race. I believe both Golding and Fugard are trying to tell us the world is imperfect, we should not try to change the world. Instead, we should treasure what we have right
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