Historical Context Timeline

  • President Roosevelt passed The New Deal.

    This deal helped agriculture production. This might have influenced content in the book. "He walked with an accustomed tread through the acres of fruit trees..." (Golding 52)
  • President Roosevelt Was a Peacemaker

    FDR was known to be a peacemaker. This might have influenced Golding to have a peacemaker in the novel. "...'And they keep running off. You remember the meeting? How everyone was going to work hard until the shelters were finished?'..." (Golding 48)
  • Hitler Became a Dictator

    Hitler was a dictator of Germany, this might have influenced the decision to make Jake like a dictator. As stated in the book, "...'Grab them!' No one moved. Jack shouted angrily. 'I said ‘grab them’!' The painted group moved round Samneric nervously and unhandily...." (Golding 163)
  • Breathing Problems

    In America, the people in certain areas were facing problems with the dust bowl. Golding might have used this historical event and incorporated the effects of the dust bowl into one of the characters, Piggy. '...on account of my asthma.' (Golding 11)
  • Radio Signals Were Improved

    From the day that the radio was invented, 1920, to 1934 the radio didn't product the clearest sounds. Though this specific event might not be connected, the invention of the radio could have sparked an idea for content in the book. 'If only we could build a radio.' (Golding 148)
  • Great Britan Declares War

    By Great Britain Declaring War, all the men who are capable of helping in the services are sent to the army, navy, air force, and maries. This could have been used due to Ralph stating, 'He’s a commander in the Navy.' (Golding 15)
  • Flying Commercially

    Since commercial flying had just been accomplished, allowing more than a couple people per plane fly. This might have inspired Golding about how the boys got on the island. 'He must have flown off after he dropped us. He couldn’t land here. Not in a plane with wheels...We was attacked!' (Golding 11)
  • Evacuation of Childern

    When Germany was in war, many countries including Great Britain evacuated the children and mothers. The children and mothers most of the time were not kept together. Golding might have used this historical information in the novel, 'All them other kids...He must have flown off after he dropped us. He couldn’t land here. Not in a plane with wheels...We was attacked!' (Golding 11)
  • Axis, Allies, and Neutral Sides

    The war had various people fighting on one side and many on the other; but there was as well a neutral side. This might have influenced Golding to added Simon, the neutral man. "Simon looked now, from Ralph to Jack, as he had looked from Ralph to the horizon, and what he saw seemed to make him afraid." (Golding 64)
  • Saveragy Apperent

    During World War II, savagery was present in many different aspects. Golding might have been impacted to used savagery as one of the main themes. "Simon was crying out something about a dead man on a hill." 'Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood!...' "The sticks fell and the mouth...screamed. The beast was on its knees in the center, its arms folded over its face. It was crying out against the abominable noise, something about a body on the hill." (Golding 139)