Lord of the Flies is a novel by William Golding that explores the descent into savagery of a group of boys stranded on an uninhabited island. At the beginning, the boys establish a democratic society, but as time goes on, their fear and desire for power lead to the emergence of a savage tribe. The island, once a symbol of hope and rescue, becomes a place of darkness and death. The novel ends with the arrival of a naval officer who rescues the boys, but the officer's reaction to the boys' behavior suggests that the world outside the island is not much better. As Golding writes, "The officer grinned cheerfully at Ralph. 'We saw your smoke. What have you been doing? Having a war or something?'"