Roger Flashcards
“his arm was conditioned by civilisation”
Roger’s initial hesitance to commit violent acts, such as when he throws stones at Henry but deliberately avoids hitting him, is emblematic of the civilizing constraints still in place within him. His “arm” is physically capable of violence, but he is “conditioned by civilisation” to not act upon these urges — at least initially. As civilization’s grip weakens and the boys’ descent into barbarism accelerates, Roger’s violent impulses are no longer repressed.
“Sense of delirious abandonment”
This phrase conveys a profound shift in Roger’s emotional and psychological state. Delirious abandonment suggests both a release from societal norms and a wild, uncontrolled abandon to darker impulses. Roger is no longer acting out of fear or self-control; he is in a state of ecstatic freedom from any moral or ethical boundaries. The word “delirious” holds strong connotations of madness, intoxication, and an extreme state of being. It suggests not just an emotional high, but an overpowering mental state in which reason and restraint are abandoned. Roger’s descent into savagery can be seen as him abandoning his former self, the civilized Roger who had internalized social norms and embracing the more primal, destructive impulses that exist within him.
“Roger advanced upon them as one wielding a nameless authority “ chapter 11
The verb ‘advanced’ suggests deliberate inevitable movement, evoking an almost militaristic connotation, unlike earlier in the novel when Roger hesitates before harming other (throwing stones at Henry) here he moves with purpose and certainty.
“Nameless authority is particularly unsettling as it implies an illegitimate, undefined and primal form of power. Roger’s power is neither democratic nor charismatic it is based solely on fear and destruction. The lack of ‘name’ suggests that this authority is beyond conventional human structures ; it is the manifestation of chaos and cruelty itself
Context to talk about for Roger
Golding who served in World War II, witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of totalitarian regimes and the capacity for human cruelty. Roger represents the most extreme form of this savagery, as he does not rule by law or order but through sheer force, much like how totalitarian enforcers maintained control through fear and violence
