Modern events, such as the recent use of chlorine gas in Syria, show that even with a civilized culture not too far away, people can still revert to savage desires for power and primitives and authorities (Hubbard 1). William Golding portrays these same ideas in his novel, Lord of the Flies, only Golding portrays these natural desires with English schoolchildren stranded on a tropical island paradise. In William Golding's Lord of the Flies, civilization and savagery take on contrasting roles and are represented by a number of different symbols including people, places, and objects (Koopmans 70). William Golding was born on September 19, 1911 in St. Columb Minor in the United Kingdom. His parents were Alec Golding and Mildred Golding. Alec Golding was an educator and had written many textbooks on a variety of different subjects. His mother, Mildred Golding, was a women's rights activist. Golding grew up fascinated by literature and became a teacher in 1939 at Bishopworth School. Golding served in the Royal Navy during World War II, where he discovered the evil that lives in the heart of man, one of the main subjects of his most successful novel, Lord of the Flies. William Golding died on 19 June 1993 (William Golding). In Lord of the Flies, many symbols portray ideas of the contrasting roles of civilization and savagery. In this allegory, William Golding uses Ralph to represent the idea of ​​law and order, and uses Piggy to represent rational thinking and judgment as an adult (Koopmans 75-76). These two roles are very important in the story because at the end of the book, Piggy and Ralph are the only kids who still act civilized, and they are the kids' only hope of returning to the world.... ..half of paper ......ion. vol. 94. Detroit: Gale, 2004. Literature Resource Center. Network. February 26, 2014. Koopmans, Andy. “Critical analysis of the novel”. Understanding Lord of the Flies. Farmington Hills: Lucent, 2003. 69-85. Press. Understanding great literature. Spitz, David. "Power and Authority: An Interpretation of Golding's 'Lord of the Flies'." The Antioch Review 30.1 (Spring 1970): 21-33. Rpt. in Contemporary Literary Criticism. Ed. Roger Matuz and Cathy Falk. vol. 58. Detroit: Gale Research, 1990. Literature Resource Center. Network. February 26, 2014. "William Golding." Young adult authors and artists. vol. 44. Detroit: Gale, 2002. Biography in context. Network. February 26, 2014.Woodward, Kathleen. “The Case for Strict Law and Order.” Readings on Lord of the Flies. Ed. Clarice Swisher. San Diego: Greenhaven, 1997. 88-95. Press. Greenhaven Press's literary companion to British literature.