Essay: Transformation / survival – Jekyll & Hyde / Lord of the Flies

How is “transformation and or survival” depicted in two of the works you have studied and what is its significance?
The transformation in both novels of the characters shifting from good to a darker twisted evil version of themselves, the strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (text 1) and Lord of the flies (text 2) both engage the reader by compelling them similar ways, text 1 compels the reader with the transformation of Dr.Jekyll to Mr.Hyde, whereas text 2 compels the reader with the transformation of the kids. Both text 1 and text 2 showcase a transformation with text 2 showing it in the characters personality change and with text 1 showing it with the transformation between Jekyll and Hyde, both text show this well due to the use of imagery, allegory and
Diction.
Imagery is shown in text 1 and text 2 in a plethora of ways, For example, Imagery brings to life the transformation as it paints a picture in our head of a character transforming into something evil. This is shown in the quote “pale and shaken, and half-fainting, and groping before him with his hands, like a man restored from death—there stood Henry Jekyll!”. This instantly fills the reader’s head with ideas as clearly stated in the quote that the person who was hyde transformed into was “Henry Jekyll” which highlights the idea of good shifting to evil. The author is trying to show a key plot point in the story by really showcasing the surprise in this quote. Similarly, in lord of the flies, a quote states “Bollocks to the rules! We’re strong – we hunt! If there’s a beast, we’ll hunt it down! We’ll close in and beat and beat and beat – !”. This quote shows that jack is transforming from a civilized person to a savage shell of who he used to be, this is shown by the use of imagery and language, simply uttering those words with evil intentions produces an image in the reader’s mind, an image of certain posture pops into the readers head as the reader can imagine what the island is doing to jack and the others, this is especially shown when he uses the repetition of the word “beat” over and over again. In conclusion, both novels use imagery to show the transformation from good to evil.
Additionally, Text 1 uses foreshadowing to emphasize transformation, this is shown in the quote “The last, I think; for, O my poor old Harry Jekyll, if ever I read Satan signature upon a face, it is on that of your new friend.” This foreshadows the eventual discovery of Jekyll’s experiment where he was experimenting on how he can turn into Mr hyde therefor showing the transformation of good to evil through the use of foreshadowing. Similarly, Lord of the flies uses foreshadowing to represent the transformation of good to evil through the use of a quote that says “Maybe,” he said hesitantly, “maybe there is a beast. What I mean is… maybe it’s only us.” This quote clearly uses foreshadowing that the kids themselves think now that they are the beast and the threat is none other than themselves which foreshadows them eventually turning from civilization to a clan of savages like a beast that the kids describe themselves as which emphasizes the transformation even further. Overall both text 1 and text 2 use foreshadowing to further demonstrate the transformation from good to evil.
Thirdly, an evil tone is used in text 1 to pinpoint the transformation from good to evil. An example of this is from a quote that says “The large handsome face of Dr. Jekyll grew pale to the very lips, and there came a blackness about his eyes. “I do not care to hear more,” said he. “This is a matter I thought we had agreed to drop.”This quote features an evil tone within the character of Dr. Jekyll when the quote says that his face was pale and blackness on his eyes creating that sense of discomfort and evilness within him which clearly shows and illustrates the transformation of a good character turning into something evil. In comparison, Lord of the flies also uses an evil tone to show the transformation from good to evil through the quote “His mind was crowded with memories; memories of the knowledge that had come to them when they closed in on the struggling pig, knowledge that they had outwitted a living thing, imposed their will upon it, taken away its life like a long satisfying drink.” The quote focuses on the feelings of jack after a hunt, his sense of satisfaction after killing an innocent pig who had no harm to them. Having the desire to commit such violence further illustrates the evil tone and sinister actions deep within him which therefore clearly illustrates the transformation from good to evil and in this case, jack being an ordinary civilized child to becoming a savage instinct based husk of his former self.
Overall both of these books use an evil tone to emphasize the transformation from good to evil.
In conclusion, the transformation of good to evil in both novels is shown through imagery, foreshadowing, and an evil tone. All of these features can embed such a deep meaning with both of these texts in an interesting way and shows how both authors cared so much when writing their story and how they interpret from good characters becoming evil ones.