The Representation of WWII in British Literature:

Abstract

The Second World War was a watershed in the history of the nations all over the world, particularly in Britain. The dreadful effects of the war were crucial enough to urge most of post-WWII British writers to depict the atrocities and the outcomes of the war through their fictional works. Most importantly, William Golding is one of the influential literary figures of post-WWII era. Shortly after the end of the Second World War, Golding wrote his masterpiece Lord of the Flies (1954) which is a depiction of the human nature and the inner evil that resides it. This study is an attempt to explore the atmosphere of the British society in the aftermath of the Second World War and how post-World War II British writers depict the outcomes of the war and its influence on people. This study also flashes light on Golding’s novel Lord of the Flies as an allegory of the Second World War in which the writer tried to convey his thoughts and views in an indirect manner. In this regard, Golding used fictional characters to refer to real historical figures appeared during World War II. He also used fictional incidents for the aim of referring to real world events. Most importantly, the novel mirrors a sombre view about humanity and the end of civilization in the aftermath of World War II.