SOVEREIGNTY AND THE POLITICS OF DEATH: UNMASKING THE DARK LORD OF THANATOPOLITICS IN GOLDING’S LORD OF THE FLIES

Abstract

This study examines William Golding’s Lord of the Flies through the lens of thanatopolitics, focusing on how sovereignty becomes intertwined with the politics of death. The research explores the darker dimensions of power by analyzing how authority shifts from maintaining order to exercising control through fear, violence, and the threat of death. Drawing on theoretical perspectives of biopolitics and thanatopolitics, the study investigates how systems of power evolve to determine not only how individuals live but also how and why they die within the narrative. The first objective is to interpret how the novel portrays characters as being influenced by symbolic and demonic forces associated with life and death, particularly through figures such as the “beast” and the Lord of the Flies. These elements reveal the psychological and moral disintegration of the boys, as fear becomes a tool for manipulation and control. Secondly, the study analyzes the transformation of sovereignty, tracing its movement from Ralph’s structured and cooperative leadership to Jack’s authoritarian and fear-driven rule, highlighting how power advances toward a darker and more destructive form. Finally, the research examines how characters from similar social backgrounds develop diverse psychological responses to isolation and power, resulting in contrasting approaches to survival, morality, and authority. The findings suggest that the novel serves as a powerful political allegory, exposing how sovereignty rooted in fear and death leads to moral collapse and social chaos. Ultimately, the study underscores the fragile nature of civilization and the ease with which human beings can descend into violence when ethical boundaries are eroded.