Two Islands, Both With No Order

For the past few days in English class, we've been discussing about Golding's reference to "mankind's essential illness," and the monstrosities that man is capable of doing when all order is lost. On August 29, 2005 America was soon about to experience a devastating natural disaster that would end up changing peoples' lives. In Lord of the Flies, a group of English choir boys are stranded on a deserted island, because while flying, their plane was shot down. The boys to some extent relate to those that were trapped in New Orleans during and after the hurricane. Those trapped found themselves literally and figuratively on a island, where help was far far away. New Orleans soon became a deserted island, similar to the one the boys were stranded on. In both cases, there was no order, laws, police, punishments, and regulations, only ordinary people. The boys soon were able to do whatever they wanted only because no one had control over them (mainly Jack did). In New Orleans, the people that stayed behind were capable of doing anything. They were above the law, only because there was no law. Like on the island, Roger was able to get away with the murder of Piggy, and Simon's death was somewhat ignored. Before that dreadful day of August 29, New Orleans was a lively city, filled with zest and tons of energy. The city was ALIVE!!! but after Katrina, the lovely city of New Orleans suddenly became a ghost town. People robbed abandoned stores, and took whatever they could have of value. When there is no order or law people that were once civilized become animals. This also happened with Lord of the Flies. The boys were very polite and civilized, but once they were left alone on the island their animalistic state overpowered them; and they did things that if they were back home, they would have never done. Laws prevent man from doing evil acts, but when the law is absent, so is the humanity within man. However, although times seemed rough and harsh for both the boys and the citizens of New Orleans, they never gave up. They stood strong and believed that help would eventually come. In the end, the boys were rescued from they hell they lived in, and the people of Katrina were saved. Today, New Orleans is back to how it once was, thanks to those people of New Orleans who never gave up and the continual help and support of those outside of New Orleans. Although New Orleans and the island the boys were on are very different, and so far away from one another, they are merely mirror images of each other. One in the 1940s and the other in 2005. Both experienced bad, but overcame the evil by good.