A plane carrying a group of young schoolboys flying from Britain to escape war is shot down. The plane crashes on a desert island, stranding the boys there with no hope of rescue. Together, the boys explore the island, elect a leader, and devise strategies in the hopes of attracting any nearby ships or planes so that they may be rescued.
At first, the boys enjoy their time on the island, free of the grown-ups who usually run their lives. However, because of this, they also begin to neglect the day-to-day necessities, such as looking for food or maintaining the signal fire. As a result, the group they've built begins to deteriorate, and an older, more savage boy takes over the group. A fear develops that there is a monster living in the jungle.
As order gives way to chaos, the older boys mistakenly murder a younger boy, set a fire within the jungle, and lead a manhunt for one of the boys. In the end, a British naval ship lands on the island to rescue the boys. Upon seeing an officer and learning that he is safe, the main character despairs in the idea that he will never be the same:
"Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart, and the fall through the air of a true, wise friend called Piggy."
Write a paragraph identifying and explaining the theme present in this passage and how it relates to any universal themes
please I really need help