[electronic resource] /
Langue : English
Publié 23 septembre 2001 par Penguin Books.
Few works in literature have received as much popular and critical attention as Nobel Laureate William Golding's Lord of the Flies. Since its publication in 1954, it has amassed a cult following, and has significantly contributed to our dystopian vision of the post-war era. When responding to the novel's dazzling power of intellectual insight, scholars and critics often invoke the works of Shakespeare, Freud, Rousseau, Sartre, Orwell, and Conrad. Golding's aim to "trace the defect of society back to the defect of human nature" is elegantly pursued in this gripping adventure tale about a group of British schoolboys marooned on a tropical island. Alone in a world of uncharted possibilities, devoid of adult supervision or rules, the boys attempt to forge their own society, failing, however, in the face of terror, sin, and evil. Part parable, allegory, myth, parody, political treatise, and apocalyptic vision, Lord of the Flies is perhaps …
Few works in literature have received as much popular and critical attention as Nobel Laureate William Golding's Lord of the Flies. Since its publication in 1954, it has amassed a cult following, and has significantly contributed to our dystopian vision of the post-war era. When responding to the novel's dazzling power of intellectual insight, scholars and critics often invoke the works of Shakespeare, Freud, Rousseau, Sartre, Orwell, and Conrad. Golding's aim to "trace the defect of society back to the defect of human nature" is elegantly pursued in this gripping adventure tale about a group of British schoolboys marooned on a tropical island. Alone in a world of uncharted possibilities, devoid of adult supervision or rules, the boys attempt to forge their own society, failing, however, in the face of terror, sin, and evil. Part parable, allegory, myth, parody, political treatise, and apocalyptic vision, Lord of the Flies is perhaps the most memorable tale about "the end of innocence, the darkness of man's heart."
I went into this book with a pretty correct idea about what it would be about. It reminded me of every job I've ever had; a bunch of childish boys trying to decide who's in charge.
What surprised me is that it was actually a nice little tropical vacation of sorts. I should have read it in wintertime.
Avertissement sur le contenu Léger spoiler (j'évoque l'évolution générale de l'histoire sans rentrer dans les détails)
C’est malin de n’avoir mis que des enfants dans cette robinsonade, parce qu’on n’a pas de mal à croire à leurs comportements les plus insensés – après tout ce ne sont que des enfants – et ça rend l’histoire d’autant plus perturbante quand leur microsociété se révèle un miroir de la notre, et met en lumière toutes les facettes de l’âme humaine. Ça nous interroge sur nos comportements d'adultes soit-disant civilisés, matures et responsables, sur la nature de nos sociétés, et sur la nature humaine. Et cette image de nous même que nous renvoie le roman est d’autant plus glaçante qu’elle sonne juste.
On devine dès le début que leur aventure ne va pas bien se passer, que ça va dégénérer, mais on ne se doute pas à quel point. Ça commence gentiment, mais la tension va augmenter doucement, gagner progressivement en intensité, jusqu’au final qui nous laisse le cœur battant, le sang figé. Ça ne m’étonne pas que ce livre ait autant influencé Stephen King.
Pour conclure, je dirais que c’est un roman puissant, assez pessimiste, mais que j’ai trouvé étonnement d’actualité. Ou peut-être qu’il est juste intemporel.
Un gruppo di ragazzini vittima di un incidente aereo deve costruire una mini-società per sopravvivere in un'isola deserta. In un climax di tensione, scontri e adolescenza, il libro racconta le disavventure di ragazzi che cercano di fare quello che possono di fronte alla natura ostile, fuori e dentro di loro.
