A critical lens essay on the novels The Lord of the Flies by William Golding and To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

"...in all of us, even in good men, there is lawless wild-beat nature..." Plato, The Republic, Book IX There is a second side to mankind, which is the uncivilized side. Even in the best of mankind, the wild beast can come out resulting in brutal wounding, drugs, alcohol and even killing. In the novel, The Lord of the Flies, the beast awakens within Jack and Ralph. However, in To Kill A Mockingbird, Bob Ewell and …

…However, in To Kill A Mockingbird, Bob Ewell and Atticus do not have a good and bad side. As displayed this significant lens holds truth and non-truth towards people. Imagine if the conclusive lens applied for everyone then what would the world be like? Or if it applied for nobody, would this world be a heaven or a hellhole? Plato's theory is not always true, as shown by Atticus's behavior in To Kill A Mockingbird.