Matsya Nyaya in William Golding’s Lord of the Flies

Abstract

This research paper explores the framework of the ancient Indian theory of ‘Matsya Nyaya’, in William Golding’s novel Lord of the Flies. Matsya Nyaya essentially describes a state of lawless anarchy inherent in nature, where the strong prey upon the weak and in turn justifies the need for a just and capable ruler. This paper analyses the descent into chaos and the emergence of primal instincts in the absence of law and order in The Lord of the Flies in the context of Matsya Nyaya. By applying this theory to the novel, the paper aims to analyze the  dynamics of power, the breakdown of societal structures and the restoration of order in the novel.