William Golding drew from the work of a famous psychologist who believed that there is evil in everyone that is kept in check by the conscience. Who...

The
psychologist who believed that our tendencies toward evil are kept in check by our conscience is
Sigmund Freud. Freud said that everybody has an evil side, and if it weren't for our conscience,
we would all act on it. Golding has examined this idea through and has
shown its many shades through the characters.

When the book begins, we don't
really see evil among the characters. Some are scared, and some embrace the leadership their
situation necessitates; we even see the possibility for the abuse of power. Yet it isn't until
life on the island devolves and hope for rescue diminishes that we begin to see the more primal
side of the boys emerge, and with it, evil.

is the epitome of the evil that
Freud believes most people are suppressing. As the group becomes more desperate, Jack takes a
greater leadership role, wresting it from . This position allows him to create chaos and wreak
havoc, destroying the balance of the group and resulting in death. Ralph experiences a similar
loss of conscience, but because he is beginning with a greater moral compass, his ability to
keep his conscience in check is greater.represents the conscience staying intact and is a
constant reminder to the group of where they are going astray.