Loss of Innocence

As the novel progresses the boys lose their innocence, as they change from civilized British schoolboys to the painted savages seen in later chapters. They go from hunting for their survival to hunting for pleasure. Hunting animals to hunting and killing humans. The character development of even the most civilized boy, changes dramatically because as their time on the island increases, the theme of savagery is promoted more and more. The loss of innocence is attributed to the fact that the natural savagery that exists among the boys and in all humans has been allowed to mature and develop.