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Born and Forced
On the September 19, 1911 William Golding was born. His parents were quite unique within the community. Mildred was a strong supporter of women's rights, and his father was a rationalist. Putting reason over experience when it came to gaining knowledge. "Alec's anti-religious devotion to reason was the legacy of such scientific rationalist..."(Cliffnotes) Along with his fathers beliefs Golding grew up with a harsh father, one who "was not tolerant or emotionally based experiences"(Cliffnotes). -
A Failed Attempt
"...just 12 years old, he attempted, unsuccessfully, to write a novel"(Bio.com). William attended his fathers grammar school and wanted to try to write a novel. Since it was a failure he became frustrated and angry, as children do, but decided to push all of that anger into bullying other students. "William would describe his childhood self as a brat, even going so far as to say, 'I enjoyed hurting people.'"(Bio.com). He was a violent child, and that reflected in his book Lord of the Flies. -
Education
"His father hoped he would become a scientist..."(Bio.com) As his father hoped he took on studying science for 2 years of his life but it was only for his fathers acceptance. "...however, he switched to the literature program..."(Cliffnotes). He then graduated from oxford in 1935 "...with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a diploma in education"(Cliffnotes). After he started his carer with writing, acting and producing. -
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Teaching
"...began teaching English and philosophy in Salisbury at Bishop Wordsworth's School"(Bio.com). He had also mairried a woman named ann soon after he started teaching and had 2 kids. He taught until 1961 -
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Navy
"...exposing him to the incredible cruelty and barbarity of which humankind is capable"(CliffNotes). Being in the navy somewhat opened Golding's eyes that everywhere its just as bad. He eventually, after, wrote stories relating to his experiences and observations. "the content frequently comes back to the problem of evil, the conflict between reason's civilizing influence, and mankind's innate desire for domination." (CliffNotes). Golding is somewhat a character that only sees bad. -
Publishing of Lord of the Flies
"Lord of the Flies was the first to be published after having been rejected by 21 publishers" (cliffNotes). He wanted to publish this book because it went against all the realist ideas he hated that his father had. -
Lord of the Flies Film
"In 1963, the year after Golding retired from teaching, Peter Brook made a film adaptation of the critically acclaimed novel." (Bio.com) -
Nobel Prize
"Two decades later, at the age of 73, Golding was awarded the 1983 Nobel Prize for Literature" (Bio.com) -
A Royal Honor
"In 1988 he was knighted by England’s Queen Elizabeth II."(Bio.com) -
Death
"Golding died of a heart attack in Perranarworthal, Cornwall. After Golding died, his completed manuscript for The Double Tongue was published posthumously."(bio.com). -
Hint to Fathers Negative Effects
He was interested in poetry, even though he was directed to fiction. "...a year before he graduated, William published his first work, a book of poetry aptly entitled Poems"(bio.com). He had created many poems, all which he thought were "juvenile"(Cliffnotes). It actually revealed how against rationalism/rationalists Golding was, and his mocking of them in his poems. -
His Wanted Path
"After college, Golding worked in settlement houses and the theater for a time"(bio.com). He wasn't living very well in a unloved area of London He wanted to write, act and even produce his own plays somewhat like Shakespeare. The sad thing is it could never happen where he was and ended up being a social worker outside of theater to pay bills.