WILLIAM GOLDING.

The article focuses on William Golding's perspective on history and human nature as reflected in his literary works, particularly *Lord of the Flies* (1954). Golding, influenced by his experiences in the Second World War and his background in science and history, challenged optimistic views of human progress by portraying history as a cyclical tension between enlightenment and destruction. His novels often explore characters confronting new eras that simultaneously promise advancement and harbor the seeds of downfall, illustrating humanity's recurring failure to learn from the past. Despite this bleak outlook, Golding suggested a cautious hope that humans might grapple with their historical legacy to imagine a different future.