Loss of Innocence

Another theme of Lord of the Flies is loss of innocence. In the beginning of the book, the boys were young, innocent British schoolboys. At the end of the book, they became savages. Before coming to the island, the boys had everything done for them. Their parents protected and sheltered them. Someone provided them food, either at home or at school. They never had to find their own food. They lived in houses and didn't have to worry about making their own shelter.

After the plane crashed on the island, their lives changed completely. They had to find their own food and make their own shelters. They had no one to protect them and became afraid. They grew more fearful as stories of a beast arose. They were so afraid that their fear controlled them. They lost control of themselves in a mob. They were excited because they thought they were going to kill the beast but they mistakenly killed Simon, an innocent boy.

"Ralph said, 'That was murder.'
" 'You stop it!!' said Piggy, shrilly. 'What good're you doing talking like that.'
"He jumped to his feet and stood over Ralph.
" 'It was dark. There was that-that bloody dance. There was lightning and thunder and rain. We was scared!'
" 'I wasn't scared,' said Ralph slowly, 'I was-I don't know what I was.'
" 'We was scared!' said Piggy excitedly. 'Anything might have happened. It wasn't-what you said.' " (Page 156).

From that point, their innocence was lost. There is no way to regain innocence.