The novels Lord of the Flies by William Golding and Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad explore how isolation from civilization allows human's basic, primitive nature to emerge as environmental and situational factors shape behavior, revealing an inherent potential for evil within all people according to the authors' interpretations of human nature. Golding and Conrad portray how a lack of restrictions and social norms cause humans to regress into a more savage and violent state, highlighting the circumstantial influence on one's humanity.