Are people inherently good?

People are inherently good in my opinion. People have the ability to be evil, but only when they need or want to be. Things can be so bad that it can change a persons views or opinions about them. With that, they change their whole attitudes, that doesn't mean their whole mind-set is different.

For example when Simon was murdered. That was evil. But that's what Jack thought was necessary at the time. Simon was an inherently good person, while Jack was seen to be evil, or mean, but at heart he is still a young boy just as Simon was. They both had different views on life and the way things worked but at heart they both thought and KNEW what was really the right thing to do in every situation. Whether or not they CHOSE to do that, was up to them.

Another example is when Rodger killed Piggy. Ralph KNEW what was right, but he CHOSE not to do so. This doesn't mean Rodger is inherently evil either, it means he makes poor decisions. Yes, killing someone is the ultimate status symbol for being evil. But, they CHOSE to do so. So its not really about being born evil its about making the right or wrong choices.

So overall its a self conscience choice you make as to what you do. You can't be born to be evil. When the young boys came or crashed on the island they hadn't been exposed to such measures, so they weren't born that way. Therefore it wasn't inherent. Choices got them where they are and to what they are doing now. If a person makes the decision to change and be a better or worse person, and really try hard enough then that's what they will get out of it. You get what you put into life.