story
Lord of the Flies
Civilization is a thin veneer that collapses fast when adults aren't watching.
Origin
William Golding's 1954 novel. A group of British schoolboys is stranded on a deserted island after a plane crash and rapidly devolves from democracy to tribal violence. The 'beast' they fear turns out to be themselves. Golding had been a schoolteacher and a wartime naval officer; the book draws on both.
Modern usage
Used whenever a leaderless group descends into chaos โ startup co-founders without process, group chats without moderators, reality TV cast in week three.
Tags
civilization
savagery
group