BRAIMSTORMING for CPT Presentation - Final Copy/Script
Ronnie, Revant, Tarun
THEME STATEMENT: When people are misunderstood or freed from social rules, their inner capacity
for savagery and loss of innocence is shown.
THEME ANALYSIS:
The theme or lesson of Lamb to the Slaughter and Lord of the flies strongly connects to the real world.
Both texts show how violence and savagery can emerge in social and solitary settings. Society today
assumes that people who commit crimes are naturally evil, especially within families, but real-world
events prove that this common belief is not always true as seen with Mary Maloney in Lamb to the
Slaughter, and the majority of the savages in Lord of the Flies not starting out violent.
Lord of the Flies 1: “Maybe there is a beast… maybe it’s only us.”
Analysis: The boys begin to realize that the threat isn't coming from the world, it is coming from inside
themselves. This line highlights that the boys’ civil behavior was getting corrupted and their inner
darkness was starting to emerge. Once the leadership broke, most of the boys turned on each other, they
chose violence over law and order.
Lord of the Flies 2: “Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of a man’s heart.”
Analysis: This final line shows Ralph finally coming to the understanding that the violence wasn't caused
by the circumstances but by the fear inside them. Just the collapse of leadership doesn't make everyone go
violent. Ralph becomes overwhelmed that violence was taking over everyone, realizing that it stems from
human nature, not random occurrences.
Lamb to the Slaughter 1: “It was extraordinary, now, how clear her mind became.”
Analysis: This quote suggests psychological savagery. Mary Maloney knew what she did in perfect clarity
and her husband Patrick Maloney’s lack of understanding demonstrates how violence and savagery
remove our humanity and innocence.
Lamb to the Slaughter 2: “There was a slow smiling air about her, and about everything she did.”
Analysis: This is an insight into Mary’s usual everyday life and how she was a pleasant and happy person
before her sudden turn, this quote gives us a reminder of how fast she lost her innocence, and moreover
how brutal she was.
Connection to world:
“In the court cases that follow after riots, a large group of people are prosecuted who, apparently, had
never been in trouble with the law before. It would appear that some relatively law-abiding citizens can be
transformed into violent looters and arsonists, by some powerful mobilizing effect of "crowd
psychology."
Analysis:
Although humanity has evolved from its violent past, people still follow routines that mask an underlying
capacity for savagery. Lord of the Flies and Lamb to the Slaughter reveal how easily this violence can
surface when social order collapses. This article suggests that the majority of people in riots are not
inherently violent or bloodthirsty. Something worth noting is "crowd psychology." Stott, C., & Drury, J.
(2016). Sudden changes in demeanour and morals much like the quote from Lord Of The Flies “Maybe
there is a beast… maybe it’s only us.”William Golding. This quote almost perfectly encapsulates the
feeling of a riot or any form of violence being enacted.
Summary of the article:
The article “Spike in online crimes against children a ‘wake‑up call’” reports that organizations dedicated
to child safety are observing a significant increase in crimes against children, who are the most
defenseless and innocent members of society, online. These include a rise in cases of exploitation,
grooming, and other predatory behavior made easier through digital platforms, where adults target
children. And that’s not all. NCMEC also points out the dramatic statistics of online crimes against
children, noting that “Reports of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) related to child sexual
exploitation soared from 6,835 reports to 440,419.” The article emphasizes that this rise in online child
crimes is very alarming to experts, who call this a wake-up call for parents, caregivers, and authorities to
immediately improve protective measures in these sites.
How The Theme Connects to The World
This article shows that violence and exploitation can target even the most harmless and defenseless
people, children, which is a clear example of human savagery. The adults committing these crimes online
violate fundamental social rules about protecting children, exposing how savage behavior can emerge and
escalate even in the internet where rules exist but are broken, which explicitly highlights the appearance
versus reality theme we chose. Just like the Lord of the Flies and Lamb to the Slaughter show characters’
dark capacities under stress or impulses, harmful behavior towards children, the symbol of innocence,
happens in real life under pressures or opportunities.
Comparing Literature and Reality
We can compare and contrast the article to Lord of the Flies and Lamb to the Slaughter because they are
both about the structure of society breaking down symbolized by the “beast” being the evil inside them
all. Lord of the Flies shows social collapse because they have no rules, no adults. The beast lives inside all
of them, it's the collapse of leadership that makes them turn on each other and bring out their inner evil.
Also, the littluns are innocent and powerless in these scenarios, so they suffer as the older boys give in to
savagery. In Lamb to the Slaughter, Mary Maloney, initially seeming gentle and loving, suddenly kills her
husband, showing that even seemingly “harmless" people can engage in acts of violence. Similarly, the
adults committing child abuse or online exploitation violate social rules, showing that cruelty can appear
in unexpected places. In the real world, children are being harmed by adults who should protect them,
exhibiting that the greatest harm comes from those entrusted with power and care.
The theme from LOFT and Lamb to the Slaughter, which is that when people are misunderstood or freed
from social rules, their capacity for savagery and loss of innocence is shown, connects to the real world of
unfortunate rising cases of child abuse and neglect in Ontario. Both texts show that violence does not
always come from chaos or clear evil, but from ordinary people who violate moral [Link]
NCMEC article reports that some adults are harming the most innocent and defenseless members of
society — children, which is a clear demonstration of human savagery. Despite societal norms and laws
designed to protect kids, these adults still commit acts of violence and neglect, exposing the cruel side of
human nature and the fragility of innocence. This reflects our theme by highlighting that violence can
come even when we expect protection, and sadly the most vulnerable are the ones who suffer first.
The beatitude: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:5)
emphasizes gentleness and a recognition of one’s moral dependence on God. In Lord of the Flies, The
boys followed what Jack had to say but soon some lost faith in him and joined Ralph not having anyone
to punish or judge them gave them confidence which lead to arrogance which then ended with savagery
Analysis : Ralph’s grief shows the kickback of fear, selfishness, and aggression—the opposite of
meekness. The boys’ lack of humility and respect leads to chaos, violence and the loss of innocence.
Unlike the Beatitude’s promise that the meek are rewarded, the absence of meekness in Lord of the Flies
results in rage and extreme aggression.
Conclusion: - Written by Tarun
In conclusion, Lord of the Flies and Lamb to the Slaughter both show that when social rules disappear or
are misunderstood, their hidden capacity for violence and loss of innocence emerges. Additionally, these
stories reflect real life, where ordinary people harm the most innocent and vulnerable, children, when
ethics are ignored. They remind us that human nature can be evil, and that it is up to us to raise awareness
and protect innocence with responsibility and compassion.
Works Cited
Davis, Patricia. “Spike in online crimes against children a “wake-up call.”” [Link], 4 September
2025, [Link]
Accessed 11 January 2026.
Dahl, Roald. Lamb to the Slaughter by Roald Dahl. Sept. 1953.
Accessed 6 Jan. 2026
Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. 17 Sept. 1954.
Accessed 6 Jan. 2026
Thank you! We sincerely appreciate your time.