Simon Lord Of The Flies Analysis

It is only common for the strong to overpower the weak. In dire situations in history, it has been seen that leaders and warriors live while prophets and peacemakers perish. Charles Darwin established a theory that explained the tenacious lived while the decrepit died off due to the fact that those with increased stamina are more likely to be able to conform to change. The naturalist states that even though some may be vastly intelligent, kind, or dignified, they end up dying first because lack of adaptability, or refusal to do so. In William Golding’s The Lord of the Flies, Simon is an example of the sort of weakness Darwin elaborates on in his theory. While he is the wisest and tries to help the boys as much as he can, Simon dies first because

Mentally, he hallucinates and speaks in riddlish, poetic phrases that the boys do not understand. Simon’s untimely death was caused by his refusal to abandon his civilized morals in order to abide by the principles of social darwinism in the ways of the other boys. Simon’s physical stature and conditions contributed to his death because it prevented him from adapting on the island like the other boys. Shortly after the boys arrive on the island, the majority of them, mostly Jack and the hunters, become obsessed with killing wild pigs and only care about having fun. The savages run, play, and kill, while Simon prefers to visit his cave and appreciate flora and fauna rather than destroy it. Also, he is unable to hunt and play wildly with the other boys. When Simon is first seen on the island, he is known as the choir boy who faints. As months pass, he continues to get injured, up until right before his death, when he bleeds heavily and trips over rocks in order to return back to camp. (Golding 146). Simon’s repetitive blackouts and abrasions show how he very obviously is not the strongest of the boys.

When the boys discuss the origin of the beast, many believe it is a living monster that lurks on the island. They think it could be from the water, the depths of the jungle, or even the sky, but it most definitely is animate. Simon, however, is the only one that realizes that the beast is only them. (Golding 89). Simon’s philosophy of the notorious beast being the boys themselves showcases his perpetual wisdom that the rest of the boys do not have. The others keep jumping to the conclusion that the beast is a living, ferocious creature because on the island, they are slowly losing the mental characteristic that allows them to contemplate the origin of fear and savagery. Simon is able to figure out that the boys are the beast because he is the only one that realizes how savage the boys are becoming. Later in the passage, the boys laugh off his proposition because they do not understand him. However, Simon continues to assert the fact that the boys have nothing to fear but the fact that they are becoming violent, monstrous human beings. Simon is the savior, and feels that he must save the boys from fully turning into disturbing creatures. In The Descent of Man, Charles Darwin explains how “With savages, the weak in body or mind are soon eliminated; and those that survive commonly exhibit a vigorous state of health. We civilised men, on the other hand, do our utmost to