Comments on: The Inheritors

By: Clare

Clare — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:03:55 +0000

This novel became more compelling as I got further into it and became used to Golding’s clever way of portraying the type of cognition the Neanderthals may have had. His idea that they would ” Have a picture” which would come to first one and then the others in the group, really worked and there was a wonderful feeling that these first humans were innocent creatures ruled by two good wise elders, Mal and the Old woman. Golding did his work well because I was genuinely shocked when Ha disappeared and gradually it became obvious that he had been killed by the hunters. It was clever too when Lok did not recognise an arrow for what it was – we only wake up to its deadly significance when Lok has described it carefully but he sees it as a “gift” which the hunters are sending him! There was quite a cosy feel of the little group gathered around the fire, even though the food they were cooking was gross by our standards. Nevertheless the author was amazingly clever to make these people who were so “other” quite personable – it was awful to hear that Nil (mother of the baby) had been shot (as reported by Fa) and to see the description of the Old Woman’s body turning in the river. As far as Darwin was concerned – well the fact that this group were mown down so easily showed that they could not keep pace and adapt to the new world. It was clever though the way the 2 infants were left with the tribe and you knew that the Neanderthal blood would live on through them.

By: Margaret

Margaret — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:28:57 +0000

Unfortunately, I found ‘The Inheritors’ boring. The descriptions of the terrain were lengthy and I could not visualise it which I found inhibited my connection with the novel. Golding puts the reader in the the place of the Neanderthal so that we see events through their eyes but with limited intelligence. Again, I found it difficult to visualise. I agree that Golding was skillful in his craft but this work was not for me. The only time I connected with the writing was when the ‘new one’ was trying to suckle at Vivani’s breast which emphasised the ultimate fate of the Neanderthals.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:17:26 +0000

I was really surprised and delighted with Golding’s depiction of the Neanderthals and the underlying statement that Homo Sapiens really are the earth’s biggest predatory parasite! Not all evolution is for the best then.

By: RUTH

RUTH — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 10:45:04 +0000

I am reading William Golding’s The Inheritors and am finding it fascinating and very enjoyable. Far from being rough brutes, Golding depicts the Neanderthals as showing great tenderness towards each other and having a keen understanding of their interaction with the environment. What I have read so far suggests he is rather disappointed that the Neanderthals died out. If they did … Ruth