The whole scheme of Golding's writing is based on the concept of situation, even though he has varied approaches in his novels. 'Lord of The Flies', the first novel, has incorporated some moral issues and has thus drawn on an indigenous tradition of sober moral enquiry. Like any religious writer, Golding, has treated the question of 'Good' and 'Evil' and the theme of original sin in allegorical method. In his own way, Golding tries to bring home the idea that man by birth is sinful.As though a moralist, he points out the fallen nature of man.
It is this thesis that attempts to construct in this novel. He has done a critical investigation into a primitive spectrum of human experience and the question of religious and moral aspects comes to the fore front. In a way the implied argument of the novel seems to be specific and arresting because we may agree at the end of the novel that if we scratch the civilized man a little, we find the savage inside.It is beyond doubt that 'Lord of The Flies' is based on and reshaped from the situation of Ballantyne's 'Coral Island'.
In his interview with Frank Kermode, Golding has stated that 'Lord of The Flies' is in fact a realistic view of the Ballantyne situation. But what is unique with this novel is that it is cast in a modern atmosphere and it deals with the contemporary predicament. Golding invents a new circumstances in an existing incident or story to suit his purpose of importing a thesis through the novel. This is done by describing a wonder-world we find the school-children completely lost and far away from the reach of the grown-up.They are taken to the island in an aeroplane in order to save them from an atomic war. They are in a lovely island, quit free from the tension imposed by the war and are at liberty to guide a society of their own.
In the beginning Golding develops a strange atmosphere through the introduction of horror of war. This is the basic situation of the novel and it is brought about gradually only and worked out to bring out the main argument of the novel. At first Golding does not emphasize to terror of the situation felt in the evil-free minds of the children. The children appear to be least bothered about the atomic war and are not frightened in being dropped in a strange place. In the beginning, they were aware neither of the dangers waiting nor their own propensity towards evil.
They started their days in a holiday mood, in a place that appeared to be paradise, least troubled of the goings on.The description of the island and island situation are significant and microscopic, so that we are to see and feel every nook and corner in all its minute details. Since we get a photographic view, we share the feelings of the children as well as their loneliness in the island. The enchanting atmosphere of the island draws us a way from the fear of war and we are invited to wetness the natural beauty of the island, enjoy its pleasures and realize the classic island situation.
There are many passages of picturesque description, aimed at emphasizing the situation of the children on the island.
