Darfur Sudan

Current situations that relates to the novel. What are they, and how do they relate? Does the novel shed any light on how current situations could be resolved or “fixed”?

While I was intently reading Lord of the Flies, I was continuously reminded of the terrible situation in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, especially Sudan. The sudden realization of how similar the situation sent goose bumps racing down my spine. The more I read, the more identical, the situation seemed it was. Similar to the chaotic fighting between the children in the novel, the war in Sudan was also ridiculous and simply crazy.

Sudan has been in a civil war between the Muslim north and the Christian south since they were left alone without the European government to stop any war, when they were granted independence in 1956. Before conquered by Europeans, the two sides were forced to peacefully live together by the European military forces. Therefore, because of the big differences between the two groups and the discomfort caused by each other’s presence, the anger and bitterness started to build up between these people, causing them to take the anger upon each other as soon as they were independent. The people of Sudan, uneducated and all, did not have the ability to settle the conflict by themselves and live peacefully. Even the leaders didn’t have much knowledge. This was one of the main reasons that they fell in war. Behind this, there were also many selfish and greedy reasons for war such as oil, land, resources, and many more. Neither of the sides backed down without showing any sign of giving up. Not knowing how to resolve any of these conflicts and how to set agreements, the two sides carried on with their savage ways of resolving conflicts, fighting. Not realizing that it was actually the Europeans that they should be mad at, the war went on for years. Uncaring about the civilians, the leaders inhumanely fought against each other, pleasing themselves through revenging and crushing the opposite side that had been giving them pain and discomfort. Despite the wrong decisions of the leaders, the only ones who actually suffered were powerless civilians, unable to do anything.

Many of these leaders started out with charisma; however, they later turned out to be easily carried away by power. Instead of basing their focus on the civilians, they were rather overwhelmed by evil at the sight of so much power a person could ask for, only caring about the pleasures he can have through this almighty power. Soon, many of the leaders fell into corruption falling deeper and deeper into the abysmal hole of evil and worldly pleasures. The flame of anger was also still burning fiercely. Lately, there finally have been some peace agreements, but these fragile agreements aren’t enough to stop savage way of obtaining what they want. The fighting for more wealth and land is still going on.

Similar to the people of Sudan without the European government to stop anything, the boys were without any adults to stop fights and maintain order. The kids also have to set up a government of their own and a way to survive by themselves such as the Sudan did without much help from the European government. These boys did not have any knowledge or help, and had to try to make a way of getting rescued by themselves. Compared to Sudan, divided through religion, Muslims in the north and Christian in the south, the boys were also divided into two groups: the hunters, led by Jack and the rest, led by Ralph. Contrasted to the situation in Sudan, the boys got along well when they first met, in fact they were excellent. However, parallel to what it was like in Sudan, Jack’s hunter and Ralph’s group had so much difference between themselves which ignited conflicts and fighting. Jack’s hunters were carried away with worldly pleasures; wanting to enjoy the time being there and simply hunt, while Ralph who was more responsible and cared more about surviving, contradicted Jack. Similar to Sudan’s situation, big ones became leaders, but because of their wrong choices, the little ones, such as the civilians in Sudan, suffered. As fighting went on between the boys, they became more savage and inhumane. Although, the war in the novel didn’t carry out many deaths and it way different than the war in Sudan, both of them were done savagely without compromising or agreements. Another crucial similarity is that if no one had come in and stopped them, whether after a week, a month, or a year, one side will win, leaving the other side completely destroyed. Most importantly, in both Sudan and in the novel, they couldn’t see who the enemy really was and what they were actually supposed to do because evil completely blinded them. Without even realizing who the real enemy was, they violently shed blood of their friends.