There are many examples of literature in everyday life that help people understand the world around them. Literature preserves people's ideals, leaving the reader with numerous messages. Authors can use literary motifs to give the reader a deeper understanding of people's lives. In a literary piece, Lord of the Flies, an overlooked but significant motif is clothing. William Golding uses clothing to show how human nature can revert to disorder in the absence of law and order. Clothing is introduced early in the novel. Ralph feels overwhelmed by the heat of the island, so he takes off his clothes: "Becoming aware of the weight of the clothes, he kicked off his shoes with a ferocious kick and tore off each stocking with his elastic garter in one motion" (10) . Arriving on the island, the boys realized that there are no adults to correct their behavior. For kids, no adults means no law enforcement. Ralph taking off his clothes so quickly in the novel indicates that the lack of clothes is directly related to the lack of order. Taking off clothing, regardless of the high temperature, is not a common occurrence. Most likely, if adults had been present on the island, Ralph would not have removed his clothing. By taking off his clothes, this shows his contempt for order. Later, Ralph blows the conch to call an assembly, and the boys arrive in uniform, “or more or less dressed, in school uniforms, gray, blue, fawn, with jacket or sweater. There were badges, even mottos, stripes of color in the socks and sweaters” (18). Golding doesn't just say that the boys wear uniforms. Instead he describes the uniform in depth, which indicates its importance. In society, uniforms signify order and structure. From the guys who arrive... middle of paper... the island. Clearly, being properly dressed is associated with law and order. After riots break out on the island and Ralph is on the verge of being killed, a naval officer arrives on the island. At first Ralph does not realize the words of the naval officer: “He stood up staggering, tense for further terrors and looked at a huge peaked cap. It was a white-topped cap, and above the green shade of the visor was a crown, an anchor, and golden leaves. He saw white drill, shoulder pads, a gun, a row of gold buttons on the front of a uniform” (200). Once this man in uniform (dressed appropriately) arrives on the island, order is once again restored. Conflict and fighting cease immediately. When the naval officer asks who is in charge, Ralph claims authority over the boys without asking questions. Works Cited Golding William, Lord of the Flies. Ancient books, 2003