The question of whether or not humans are naturally evil cannot be answered with a simple yes or no. People's nature is defined by their actions. Choosing to go right instead of left. Choosing to leave someone when they are in need instead of staying. In Lord of The Flies, the author, William Golding, asserted that humans are naturally evil throughout his novel. However, the situation in which a decision is made must also be taken into account when judging someone. Golding is incorrect that humans are inherently evil because man is capable of being both good and evil, one's nature is dependent on the circumstances, and people are born on clean slates.
The world is not so clearly divided, so black and white, such that people can be nicely categorized as good or evil. People have inside them and are capable of both. Though not Godling's intention, this can be seen in his novel Lord of The Flies. One of the characters that display this, most surprisingly, would be Jack Merridew. At first glance, Jack is one of the most savage and malicious characters there are. However, there were times when Jack was kind and pleasant. After Jack and Ralph had split up the group of boys on the island into two separate "tribes", Jack's tribe was the only one who hunted and got meat. Once, when Ralph and Piggy joined them for dinner, Jack asked, "Has everyone eaten as much as they want?" (Golding 149) and told some boys to "take [Ralph and Piggy] some meat" (149). Though it may seem like a small detail at first, it shows how Jack actually cares about the other boys. It may seem like nagging to the children when he pushes more food in front of them but in reality, he is making sure that they aren't going hungry. Compared to how mothers and grandmothers ensure that everyone they feed has had enough to eat, this is exactly what Ralph is doing here. At the same time, Jack is also extremely selfish and malicious. After the conch was destroyed and Piggy was killed, he says "See? See? That's what you'll get! I meant that!" (181). Jack doesn't care that Piggy just died, and has no sympathy. Though Piggy's death was not caused by Jack, he will do whatever he can to be the leader and have power. With the conch being smashed and destroyed, there is no symbol for Ralph's leadership anymore, which allows Jack to take over as the chief. He has no regard for others and is willing to have someone killed in order to get what he wants. Golding is incorrect that humans are inherently evil, because through Jack, it can be seen that people have the ability to be both good and evil.
When using one's actions and decisions in deciding one's character, the situation in which those decisions are made must also be taken into account. In a person's life, they are exposed to many decisions, some that are easy, and some that are much more difficult. Situations that decisions are made in can greatly affect the outcome. In the case of mob mentality, this holds especially true. In an article about a rally against the KKK, there is one scene that describes this idea. When a man wearing a Confederate flag was spotted in the crowd, a swarm of people "surrounded him, kicking him and hitting him" ("The Teenager Who Saved a Man with an SS Tattoo"). In this instance, mob mentality had taken over. People are much bolder and violent in groups compared to if they were alone. Being hidden behind other people and the anonymity that comes with large groups means that people feel they are less responsible for their actions. Because it's more difficult to be singled out, people think there are fewer repercussions. Every person in the mob did the same thing, except one. A girl named Keshia Thomas was standing by while the man was attacked. She knew it was wrong and "threw herself on top of a man she did not know and shielded him from the blows" ("The Teenager Who Saved a Man with an SS Tattoo"). She protected a complete stranger and expected nothing in return, not even a thank you from the man. But she did it because she knew what it was like to be hurt and wanted to stand up for him. Out of this harmful situation came something good and something eviler, proving that it is the situation that corrupted these people. Understanding that situation influences character reveals that unlike what Golding believed, people are neither bad apples nor good eggs, but soft fruit that can easily bruise and turn from ripe to rotten.
Humans are born without preference, without hate, and without immorality. They are like a sheet of paper, pure and unmarked. It is through societies and environments that children are shaped into the adults they will grow into. In the past, I have learned how different upbringing can create people with differing opinions. People raised in more liberal communities tend to want more equality and change, while people from more conservative communities, like the American South, still value tradition and push for certain populations to be superior to others. This occurred more so in history but is also going on currently. This superiority complex can explode into hatred for others different than oneself, such as the recent killings of people in Pittsburgh because they were Jews. However, as much as upbringing can create people with violent and evil tendencies, it also creates people who are kind and loving. Just as a pendulum swings one way, it can swing the other. Personality is learned as one's actions, which he/she repeatedly does, and becomes their habits, behaviors, and personality. Hatred is taught, not inherent. Kids are moldable and influenceable, taking examples from around them and adopting those ideals. Society shapes people's opinions, beliefs, and judgment, teaching them how to hate and how to love. Thus, Golding's belief that humans are inherently evil is incorrect, because we are born as blank slates.
Human beings are complex creatures, and complexity is neither day nor night, heads nor tails. A persons life is not all right or wrong decisions; that would be too huge a generalization. Stating that humanity is naturally evil is incorrect because man has the capability of being both good and evil, one's nature is dependent on the circumstances, and people are born on clean slates. These ideas can be seen across the board, from fiction literature to world history. Understanding these points can also educate people to realize that things are more complex than we make them out to be. And when learning about history or reacting to current events, we can ensure that terrible, horrific things such as mass killings or genocide don't continue to repeat themselves. To aid in the furthering of humanity and society as a whole, it is important to understand that the world is not black or white, but mostly shades of grey.