CHAPTER IV
METHODOLOGY
Research Design
This study is a descriptive type of
research which is a kind of scientific method that revolves around observations
of the behavior of a subject without manipulating the variables involved. The
main objective of this study is to define the nature of man in the novel of
William Golding, Lord of the Flies, through
the decisions and actions of each character of the book when factors pertaining
to their needs for survival arise.
Subjects
The respondents of this study are
the characters in the novel Lord of the
Flies of William Golding. Specifically, the characters Ralph, Simon, Piggy
and Jack in Golding’s novel that was first published in 1954 are the main
subjects of this study. These characters are British boys, ages ranging from
six to twelve, who were trapped in an isolated island due to a plane crash.
These youngsters, without the guidance of adults, try to survive in the island
by uniting and creating their own laws and rules.
Ralph is one of the oldest boys in
the mob. He was elected as their leader after he called for an assembly using a
conch to signal the others and gather them up in one place. Jack, another main character
in the novel, is the leader of the choir of boys that survived in the accident.
He is the character in the novel that turns out to be the leader of the group’s
hunters for meat. Piggy is a fat asthmatic boy who wears thick spectacles and
is the first person seen by Ralph when they crashed in the island. He is the
person who always gives out his suggestions on how things should be done even
though his proposals are sometimes rejected by the group. He is sometimes
bullied by the people in the island and always seen together with Ralph. The
last subject for this research is Simon. Simon is a weak boy who enjoys being alone
and exploring the island on his own. He is helpful to everyone and though not
realized by the boys, he is portrayed to be insightful for he was the first one
to realize who the beast really is.
Data Collection
In order to analyze the nature of
man, situations will be taken from the novel. Each instances/situations that
will be used for the character analysis will be chosen depending on its
relevance to the basic needs of the characters for survival. The researchers
will examine the different behaviors of the characters in each of the gathered
situations. The data that will be gathered will be used in the psychoanalysis
of the nature of man.
Instrumentation
In order to select the situations to
be used in the analysis, A. H. Maslow’s Theory on Motivation, specifically the
Hierarchy of Man’s needs, will be used in gathering the data. Situations in the
novel will be categorized on each of the five needs of man in Maslow’s Theory
and will be further scrutinized using Freudian psychology.
Data Analysis
In
order to determine the nature of man on each of the characters on Golding’s
novel, Sigmund Freud’s Personality Theory and A. H. Maslow’s Theory of
motivation will be used in the gathering of data and analysis. Using Freud’s
theory, specifically the mental construct of the mind (id, ego and superego)
and Maslow’s theory on the hierarchy of needs (physiological à safety à social à esteem à self-fulfillment), the
researchers will observe how each characters decide or act when situation
regarding their needs arise.
To
explain clearly how Freud’s and Maslow’s Theory help in analyzing the nature of
man; we the researchers, will use the flow shown in the operational framework (see
Fig. 3 operational framework) backwards. Meaning to say, from the actions and
decisions of the characters in the novel, we will identify what situation (basic
need) led to such action. After getting the data from their actions from the
certain situations that corresponds to their need, we will try to classify what
was dominant among the three aspects of the mental construct of Freud (id, ego,
and superego) that mitigated such decision/action on that certain situation. The
leading aspect seen on the results will determine the true nature of man.
