Why Must We Be Violent?

Tayah Brunson

Ms. Pahomov

English 2

March 22, 2019

Is there ever an excuse for violence? People all over the world have seen how violence can be justified with hatred. In connection with real world events, readers have seen negative reactions to change within pages of a novel. Novels such as, Lord of The Flies by William Golding, puts more emphasis on the negative reactions given forth by groups. In either circumstances whether on page or in the reality, when leaders attempt to make change the citizens who are affected by this change often respond with violence. Leaders that promote change in society similarly face opposition, resistance, and even hatred from those who do not want it.

John F. Kennedy and his brother Robert F. Kennedy were two political leaders in the 1950’s-60’s. John F. Kennedy in fact being the 35th president of the U.S. The brothers were also advocates for the civil rights movement and believed in the fare treatment of African-Americans. There position as leaders allowed them to push for many changes to be made to the United States. During this era segregation was made possible by the leaders of the country. Laws that kept white people surperior had to be changed, this causes problems for the governmental heads that saw change was needed. Racist citizens,stuck in their bias ways,were against Kennedy’s support of the civil rights movement. After interviewing the man who murdered John F. Kennedy, investigator Gerald Posner stated “What he did hate was the system and what Kennedy stood for. He despised America. He despised capitalism. When he eventually had the opportunity to strike against Kennedy, it was that symbol of the system that he was going after,” (History.com Editors ). The words Posner describes reveal how many white people felt in America. White people under the assumption the world would go to trash if the black were given equality. There were others that thought if African-Americans were treated as humans there would be no more order in society. Oswald’s words exemplify that when a person stands for a movement that is unpopular, it ultimately leads to hatred  Kennedy was targeted and assassinated by Harvey Oswald, (add information about who oswald was here) because of the equality he stood for and for his support if the black community in America. Oswalds hate is what pushed him to commit such a vile offence.

This relates to William Golding’s Lord of the Flies. It relates because in the novel  a group of people turn on their leaders that wanted to regulate their soceity and make change for the better. While the characters in the book were stranded on an island, conflict arose. Many of the boys started to turn savage. The former leader of the boys, Ralph, was shunned by the savages. He spoke up with the intentions of bringing the boys together and forming a unity that was based on humanity. A group of them then revolted against Ralph, shortly they formed a hostility towards him. Their hatred made them turn him into a castaway. Soon after being turned into an outcast, he was singled out by the leader of the savages, Jack, the antagonist. “They hate you, Ralph. They’re going to do you... They’re going to hunt you tomorrow,” (Golding  188). The word hunt in the quote can lead to the inference their minds no longer saw Ralph as the model leader. Ralph went from the person that all the boys followed willfully to public enemy. With every step taken by Ralph he ran the risk of being killed by the boys he used to comfort and govern. Warned by one the boys who were forced to be savage. Ralph a leader who wanted to cling on to humanity was now being viewed as the problem with their society on the island. Jack wanting to exterminate Ralph as seen in the quote had nothing more to justify it but hatred. In the eyes of the people who opposed Ralph he is an enemy of the public. He is a problem in which must be resolved. Jack wished ill-will upon Ralph when all he wanted was to lessen the chaos that would happen if the boys began to act freely. .

John F. Kennedy’s brother, Robert Kennedy, was another supporter of the civil rights movement. Five years after his brother’s death Robert Kennedy started his democratic presidential campaign. During his campaigning Robert was assassinated. During Robert’s funeral his little brother’s, brothers name, eulogy sounded through America. He stated  “A good and decent man, who saw wrong and tried to right it, saw suffering and tried to heal it, saw war and tried to stop it.” These words shined light on the character of a man that only wanted to fight the injustice of America. He fought for the rights of others and lended his hand to help mend a split society. His life tragically ended just as his brother’s did because of the  the whitemans fear of change to an equal.

Piggy, a protagonist, like the kenedy brothers was also assassinated in Lord of The flies. He was not the head of a movement promoting change, but he was a leader who supported it. Piggy tried his hardest to be a problem solver and to bring the groups of savage and civilized together during their time on the island. “Which is better-to be a pack of painted Indians like you are or sensible like Ralph is?” (Golding 180) Piggy’s words  exhibit his character describe characteristics and his true feelings towards the behavior of the boys . He had only the intentions to put an end to the division of the boys on the island. Yet, even with his intentions of cultivating peace, Piggy was killed. Piggy saw that there was no other way to live than undivided and civilized.

As individuals in society may see, the distaste for a cause can lead to the loathing of the leader behind the cause or those who publicly endorse it. This negative view on progressing change can turn into violence towards the leaders who support it.  By analyzing the similarities between say something like the lord of the flies groups and real peopleit is obvious to see that leaders throughout both fictional or realistic have had examples made out of them by the people that felt change would affect them negatively.

Works Cited

Ayton Mel. “Why Was Robert F. Kennedy Assassinated?”. History. Accessed in March, 2019

https://www.historyonthenet.com/robert-f-kennedy-assassinated

History.com Editors. “Assassination of John F. Kennedy”. History. 2018.

https://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/jfk-assassination

History.com Editors. “Robert Kennedy”. History.  2018

https://www.history.com/topics/1960s/robert-f-kennedy

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. “November 22, 1963: Death Of The President”.

History. Accessed in March, 2018.

https://www.jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/jfk-in-history/november-22-1963-death-of-the-president

William Golding. Lord of The Flies. The Penguin Group. 2006.