Lord of the Flies

751 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The true evil in lord of the flies

Lord of the Flies

Golding uses many symbols in the novel, Lord of the Flies, to represent good and evil in society. He uses Simon to represent the peacefulness of life and the kindness of a good heart, while Piggy represents the civilization on the island and the adult viewpoint of the children. The conch symbolizes order and also adult behavior. It is a symbol of strength and knowledge as well, as the evil of the beast represents the fear in the boys. All of these symbols change as the story goes on, some changes are less obvious and are the result of the readers new perspective while others undergo dramatic, and quite obvious, change.

Simon is a symbol of peace who sees only good in the world. The name Simon itself means, listener, and depicts Simon's character well as he always listens instead of giving an alternative opinion. Although at times his opinion differs from the others, he never complains. Simon's great sacrifice for the boys, dying for their sin, is a trait of a martyr. Simon's death results in a change of his affect on the boys and on the reader. Because he is killed by the other boys, he begins to represent the evil that has dominated over the good on the island.

Piggy is another symbol for goodness, however his goodness is not the same as Simons. Piggy represents the goodness that comes from adults and order. Piggy's inability to see well makes him a perfect symbol for that of blind justice. Piggy not only thinks like an adult, but also is constantly worried about how adults would view the society on the island, showing he is concerned with the order and justice of things and want to be civilized.

Piggy is picked on a lot by the other boys because of his weight and sight hindrance, but nonetheless he does not give up his share of the authority. Piggy is constantly saying, "I've got the conch," ( a sign of authority and a sign that all should listen to the person with the conch. Piggy's death symbolizes the destruction of society and civilization on the island, and the rise of savage behavior. It also shows the demise of order and the rise of the devil.

Show More
Related

  • Dialectical Journal For Lord Of The Flies

    2042 Words  | 5 Pages

    These boys represent good intentions in the novel, but in our existence, we are fortunate to have incredible citizens who are comparable to the characters. Ralph symbolizes our parents, they always have the best intentions for the children they have made although, we may not appreciate the little things they do for us such as purchase food for our stomachs , provide a roof over our heads and love us unconditionally. Simon is represented through people who aid others because it is from the goodness of their

    Read More

  • Lord of the Flies

    845 Words  | 2 Pages

    Lord of the Flies has several themes that are the key to understanding of literature. Three of the themes of this novel are the fear, courage and lastly survival. Fear has been surrounded throughout the entire novel. With the amount of fear because of an apparent beast, many of the people on the island have changed. Most of the boys have become more violent throughout the novel and have no sense of direction as what to do next. Jack was one of those people who had changed majorly throughout the novel. Courage is one of the most important things to have mentally and physically when you’re stuck in an unknown island. Ralph’s courage in the book became strong when he had lost two of his close companions in Simon and Piggy. Survival is the best theme in this novel simply because of the lack of tools and the laziness of the people throughout the book. These themes show how great and wonderful this book is, and if you read it thoroughly, you will understand the perils and the adventure of Ralph, Jack and the rest of the boys in Lord of the Flies.

    Read More

  • Lord of the Flies

    835 Words  | 2 Pages

    Simon is the morally good boy. His selflessness and goodness comes from within. He is kind to the little boys, and helps the outcasts. For example, when none of the boys want to give Piggy meat from the first pig, Simon steps up and takes him meat. "Simon…wiped his mouth and shoved his piece of meat over the rocks to Piggy…"(p.74) While everyone else is cruel to the young ones, he helps the "lil'uns" grab meat from the trees when they can't reach. "Simon found for them the fruit they could not reach, pulled off the choicest…passed them back to the endless, outstretched hands." (p.56) Simon helps those whom no one else is kind to, perhaps remembering that he was looked down upon once. He realizes what it's like to be scorned and to be the "little one", so he tries to make it less miserable for the outcasts by being kind to them. He wants to always help others, so when he discovers the beast is inside of everyone, not external, as they had imagined, he instantly runs down the mountain to tell him. He helps others even to the point of death.

    Read More

  • Lord of the Flies

    754 Words  | 2 Pages

    Often in our lives other people affect us in both negative and positive ways. In the case of Lord of the Flies, the kids influence one another while on the island, in mostly negative ways. These influences cause for mental changes in the brain. Most of the time, mental changes affect physical changes. However, in some rare occasions it is the other way around. While on the island the boys go through numerous physical and mental changes. Although mental changes are somewhat more significant than physical changes, physical changes are still very much apparent and can sometimes cause for mental change.

    Read More

  • Lord of the Flies

    1599 Words  | 4 Pages

    The main theme of Lord of the Flies is that moral nature is not instinctive in mankind. There is a capacity for evil in all people, and their morality is superficial. Nonetheless, it is this moral integrity that must continue in order for a person to be ethical, for society to be maintained, and to keep society from falling in on itself. Society holds everyone together. Without the rules and the structure, evil in everyone becomes more prominent, and ideals, values, and basics of right and wrong are forgotten. Without society's rigid rules, chaos and savagery come to light. There are also a number of secondary themes in the book such as: people will abuse power when it is not earned; people will degrade others to heighten their own sense of security; the fear of the unknown is powerful; it can make you turn to insight or hysteria. All of the themes are shown using symbolism.

    Read More

  • lord of the flies

    955 Words  | 2 Pages

    The novel Lord of the Flies was full of challenges that the boys overcame in order to survive. Conflicts within themselves, with nature and with each other constantly test the children’s ability to endure. Struggles against the natural elements of the island, rival groups or fear of the unknown continually appear throughout the story. Some of the boys on the island did not survive the quarrels that they faced. They perished because they were lacking something that the surviving boys did not. The survivors had a natural primal instinct or a physical or mental advantage over the boys who did not make it. ‘Only the strong survive’ is an important element that runs through the novel Lord of the Flies because in order to survive the boys must turn to their primitive instincts of physical strength and savagery.

    Read More

  • Pig Image In Lord Of The Flies

    237 Words  | 1 Pages

    `The symbolic aspect and the importance of the pig image in the novel is that the pig express one of the character that is piggy . And Piggy is one of the characters in the lord of the flies perhaps the most intelligent character from all the characters.He's also the closest thing they have to an adult on the island. For example , in the beginning of the story but to be exact in chapter one piggy says about a conch shell that Ralph finds and stats " We Can Use This to call the others ". And Piggy's aslo states that the shell could be used brings order to the island . Piggy is aslo express as the symbol of authority , he is often ignored by the others .And I know that because "I got the conch,' said Piggy indignantly'You let me speak!

    Read More

  • Lord of the Flies

    561 Words  | 2 Pages

    The book I am doing my report on is Lord of the flies, by William Golding and published by Perigee. This book shows the clash between the human drive towards brutality and the opposite, civilization. All around the novel, the clash is performed by the problem between Ralph and Jack, who individually speak to civilization and viciousness. The varying belief systems are communicated by every kid's different state of mind towards power. I feel that Lord of the Flies is a good book because it reveals to you that every man has the ability to be vicious, that evil is just controlled by the guidelines of society, and that once there are no rules the evil comes free and individuals get to be savages and can turn on their best friends.

    Read More

  • Lord of the Flies

    658 Words  | 2 Pages

    The concept that George R. R Martin is discussing is a concept that is greatly similar to that of Lord of the Flies’, a novel by William Golding. The novel discusses how a group of young English boys are stranded on a deserted island after their plane was shot down, and they try to figure out how to survive until they are rescued. Golding demonstrates how humans, when free of society’s rules, allow their capacity for evil to dominate their existence, through the use of symbols such as the pig’s head, the beast, and clay masks.

    Read More

  • Lord Of The Flies

    537 Words  | 2 Pages

    to tell his discovery to the boys, he is hit in the side with a

    Read More

  • Lord of the Flies

    530 Words  | 2 Pages

    Golding stated that humans were naturally evil and rules controlled them. Rousseau stated that humans were good, but rules from society brought out the evil in them. I really like both concepts, but I would have to agree with Rousseau. Humans try to prevent evil from happening, so it is kind of like karma. Evil gets back at rules and make humans evil. Golding is somewhat right, but I would have to go with Rousseau because not all humans are born evil. Some are born nice, some are mean, and so on so forth.

    Read More

  • Lord of the Flies

    4475 Words  | 9 Pages

    In the novel, "Lord of the Flies," a group of British boys are left on a deserted island in the middle of nowhere. Throughout the novel, they have conflicts between civilization and savagery, good vs. evil, order vs. chaos, and reason vs. impulse. What would it be like if the boys were replaced by a group of girls? Would they behave the same way they did in the novel? I believe that the girls would act in the same behavior as the boys in all ways because, everyone is installed with evil inside them which is their natural instinct, also because in life there is always a power struggle in all manners, and the outcome with the girls would be similar-since both sexes would plan on getting rescued.

    Read More

  • Lord of the Flies

    972 Words  | 2 Pages

    Humans are intricate. They have built civilizations and invented the concept of society, moving accordingly from savage primal instincts to disciplined behaviour. William Golding, however, does not praise humanity in his pessimistic novel, Lord of The Flies, which tells the story of a group of British schoolboys who are stranded on an uninhabited tropical island without any adults – a dystopia. Golding evidently expresses three views of humanity in this novel. He suggests that, without the rules and restrictions on which societies and civilizations are built, humans are intrinsically selfish, impulsive and violent.

    Read More

  • Lord Of The Flies Film Analysis

    1032 Words  | 3 Pages

    Piggy beside his glasses symbolizes science and intelligence. Jack, the painted faces, long hair and the naked kids represent wildness and violence, names some of the characters are symbols also, Piggy's name, which considers as a weak animal and in fat the character as well is the week to ( overweight issues, eyesight). The conch also is another symbol, it related to Ralph and Piggy so it represents the order and civilization. The head is a physical symbol as well, it represents evil and the savagery that is inside every

    Read More

  • 'The Most Important Symbols Conch'

    250 Words  | 1 Pages

    There are many symbols throughout the story. One of the most important symbols is the conch. The conch is significant because it has a lot of power among the boys. For example it is used to determine who talks and is also used to call meetings. To me, it seems like money, whoever has the conch has the power, similar to our world. Another item that is important, are Piggy’s glasses. The glasses are used as a tool in several occasions. The glasses are used to build a fire. This shows that simple things can be used a tools. In addition, the glasses help Piggy see, which is their original use. The fire, which Piggy’s glasses create, represents life and a chance of survival. The only way anyone will see them is the smoke from the fire, which is

    Read More

More about Lord of the Flies

Open Document