Lord of the Flies

1. I believe that Andre’s quote was not meant to be taken literal. Although I am sure that society can do it literally, I do not think that was the intentions of what he meant. Thinking about how society works I believe it means with words.  Words can break a person down to the core. Society says many hurtful things and kills people’s spirit and soul. When he says that it is more subtle than death, I think he means that when someone gets hurt emotionally and mentally, nobody sees it. It is subtle in a way that people can’t see the pain and hurt and see how words can break someone down.
2. A person’s willpower is stronger than anything. We become what we hope to become. If you want to be a savage person you will be. If you do not want to be savage your willpower will push through and become civilized. A person can do whatever they put their mind to, no matter the circumstances.  You can learn new ways and become a different person; you just need to train your body and mind. I believe that if you cannot separate your civilized self from your savage self, you will overcome whatever you want to overcome and whatever you allow to overcome you.
3. When surrounding yourself with like-minded people, you are part of a society. By you being a part of the group you are the one helping to control. A civilization is known as a complex society. I believe that because people make up a society, that the people control the society. The people are the society, so the people have to be the ones to control the society. They control what the society puts out to the people. The society is the people and the people control it.