Volu m e II - Purdue University Calumet

Stephen Matteson
Bethel College
Freudian Concepts in Lord of the Flies
A Study of the Ego, Superego, and Id
Abstract
Freud’s concepts of ego, superego, and id are apparent in Lord of the Flies through Ralph, Piggy,
and Jack. Ralph and the ego control the discharge of excitations (on the island and in one’s mind), bring the
influence of the world to their adversary (Jack and the id), and struggle between logic and instinct. Piggy
and the superego represent the development of a civilization, impose precepts and prohibitions on their
leaders (Ralph and the ego), and oppose their rival (Jack and the id). Jack and the id act on instincts,
oppose leadership (Ralph and the ego), and act without influence from the external world. Though Freud’s
concepts are not psychologically accurate, they parallel the characters in Lord of the Flies.
Freudian Concepts in Lord of the Flies
A Study of the Ego, Superego, and Id
William Golding’s novel Lord of the Flies tells the tale of a group of boys stranded on a coral island.
Uninhibited by civilization and adults, the boys find that what once promised to be an enjoyable experience
is, in reality, a horrific expression of the capabilities of human nature left unchecked. Through their
experiences on the island and interactions with each other, three Freudian archetypes emerge. Ralph, the
original leader of the boys, can be viewed as the ego. Like the ego, Ralph uses both reason and instinct in
an attempt to make sense of the multitude of external stimuli (from both the island and the boys) in order
to lead the group effectively. Piggy, the lone voice of reason and intelligence on the island, reminds the
boys of the “real world” and assumes the role of the superego (or the ego-ideal). Just as “the ego-ideal
answers in every way to what is expected of the higher nature of man” (Freud, 1952, p. 707), so Piggy
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