Sunny Side Up | Teen Ink

Sunny Side Up

December 5, 2019
By rpolkkk BRONZE, Violet, Louisiana
rpolkkk BRONZE, Violet, Louisiana
1 article 0 photos 0 comments

Once upon a time, deserted on an island, British boys contested with their chances of survival and power. The British boys were in an unfortunate plane crash that landed on an island never settled on before. They grappled with the fact that they had to fend for themselves while stranded. The young boys would call meetings ever so often to help better govern their new living habits. As the novel continued, the boys started to turn against one another which led to the deaths of Piggy and Simon. Chaos pursued until Ralph found the naval officer above him there to rescue the British boys. At this point in the novel the cliché statement, “every cloud has a silver lining” is shown. This statement relates to the novel because at one point all of the British boys thought death was upon them. Once they realized the officer was there to save them, the hope and brighter side came to light. In Lord of the Flies by William Golding, a group of boys struggle to survive on a deserted island, but their hope of survival agrees and represents that “every cloud has a silver lining”.

Survival tests the limits of the British boys, but the saying “every cloud has a silver lining” also shows how there is a brighter side to any fight and the relationship can come out stronger. These boys start working together to build huts to sleep in, gather wood to make a fire, and hunt for any wild animals that may be found. By each group of hunters and builders coming together for the common good, the boys are trying to develop trust and hope within one another. Towards the end of the novel, after Piggy’s death, it shows how all the boys fighting with one another did not strongly affect their relationships. Ralph’s feelings after the death of Piggy shows how the many brawls they got themselves into did not affect their love: “And in the middle of them, with filthy body, matted hair, and unwiped nose, Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart, and the fall through the air of the true, wise friend called Piggy” (Golding 202). This quote shows the raw, heartfelt emotions of Ralph as Piggy dies. Even though their relationship was rough at times, it shows the real bond the boys made during their time on the island. Piggy’s death is a tragic event, but the silver lining to come from it was the memories he left with everyone. “Every cloud has a silver lining” relates to the struggles the British boys faced, but their relationships and lives afterward are the best rewards..

Not knowing what happened to their parents or the rest of their family, the British boys are finally saved from the island and able to start a life of their own. The group has a chance at living a life that will be more different than they ever could imagine. This chance at life gives the British boys time to live out their childhood and teenage years and try to make the most of what they have left. For example, Ralph’s mindset from the very beginning was to do everything in their power to keep the fire up so people could help and rescue them. Ralph explains to the littluns how important their jobs are to each other's survival:  “We’ve got to have special people for looking after the fire. Any day there may be a ship out there” (Golding 42). This shows how strict and determined Ralph is for the fellow British boys to work together to be able to live a life outside the island. It is so important to the chief, Ralph, that each job is being completed every day because that is what is bringing them closer to freedom. Being stuck on the island for such a long period, the boys just want to have a life where they do not have to worry about making huge life decisions for themselves. The cliched statement “every cloud has a silver lining” represents the determination Ralph has for his group to cooperate so they can experience the rest of their lives. Ralph knew that being stuck on the island was miserable, but a better outcome would come if they just persisted and worked together. He feels that even though they are not in the best situation right now, their freedom, in the end, is going to make it all worth it. The determination Ralph used to be saved displays the more positive side to a situation that seems dreadful.

Stuck on a deserted island, a group of British boys learn to overcome their struggles to see the greater outcome once they persevere. Not knowing where their parents or family is can make teens extremely distraught, but seeing a new family grow within them gives them more hope for their future. The hardships the boys faced fending for themselves on an island is what brought the brotherhood and family feelings into play even when times were not easy. Survival is what motivated them to do their jobs, such as hunting for animals and keeping the fire lit. These jobs aided them, so they could be able to live a somewhat normal life after the island. The British boys will have to adjust to their new lives, but being able to be survivors is the greatest benefit of it all. Perseverance is a major theme of the novel; moreover, it displays the theme by showing how the boys continuously push through each situation for a better outcome.“Every cloud has a silver lining” shows that there is always an upside to any troublesome situation, and the bonds and life afterward is the greatest outcome. 


The author's comments:

My critique on Lord of the Flies.


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