When I wrote 'Lord of the Flies' - I had no idea it would even get published.
Interpretation
Golding reflects on his surprise at the success of his novel 'Lord of the Flies'.
William Golding expresses his initial disbelief regarding the publication and eventual impact of his novel 'Lord of the Flies'. This quote highlights the unpredictability of creative endeavors and the often unforeseen reception that artistic work can receive, reminding us that the journey of an author can lead to unexpected outcomes.
In practice
Speaking at a writing workshop to inspire aspiring authors.
Consider a man riding a bicycle. Whoever he is, we can say three things about him. We know he got on the bicycle and started to move. We know that at some point he will stop and get off. Most important of all, we know that if at any point between the beginning and the end of his journey he stops moving and does not get off the bicycle he will fall off it. That is a metaphor for the journey through life of any living thing, and I think of any society of living things.
The skull regarded Ralph like one who knows all the answers and won't tell.
Maybe, he said hesitantly, maybe there is a beast. The assembly cried out savagely and Ralph stood up in amazement. You, Simon? You believe in this? I don't know, said Simon. His heartbeats were choking him. [...] Ralph shouted. Hear him! He's got the conch! What I mean is . . . maybe it's only us. Nuts! That was from Piggy, shocked out of decorum.
The mask was a thing on it's own, behind which Jack hid, liberated from shame and self-conciousness.
Man produces evil as a bee produces honey.
Utopias are presented for our inspection as a critique of the human state.
If you wrote a novel in South Africa which didn't concern the central issues, it wouldn't be worth publishing.
No writer must be measured by a word or paragraph. He is to be measured by his work - by the tendency, not of one line, but by the tendency of all.
There is no future for e-books, because they are not books. E-books smell like burned fuel.
At least half the mystery novels published violate the law that the solution, once revealed, must seem to be inevitable.
With the single exception of Homer, there is no eminent writer, not even Sir Walter Scott, whom I can despise so entirely as I despise Shakespeare when I measure my mind against his. . . . It would positively be a relief to me to dig him up and throw stones at him.
Every great literature has always been allegorical - allegorical of some view of the whole universe. The 'Iliad' is only great because all life is a battle, the 'Odyssey' because all life is a journey, the Book of Job because all life is a riddle.
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