From Civilization to Savagery

Mokokoma Mokhonoana once said, “Morals are nothing but a civilized society’s attempt to tame some beast called man.” Many works of fiction discuss how these morals are challenged when faced with isolation from civilization. One of the most famous of these works is William Golding’s fiction novel, Lord of the Flies, which explores the theme of civilization versus savagery through the story of a group of English boys who are stranded on a deserted island. Early on in their new lives on the island, the boys stay true to the morals they were taught at home. As time progresses however, the boys are confronted with the ultimate challenge: resisting their inner primal instincts. In his novel, Golding uses crucial symbols such as the conch, the fire, and Piggy’s glasses to enhance the reader’s understanding of the characters’ transformation from morality to savagery.

Golding utilizes the conch shell to symbolize democracy, power, and civilization as the boys’ mentality changes with time. Soon after the boys crash land on the island, Ralph, the main character, discovers a beautiful conch shell. The conch plays an elemental role in calling meetings and organizing discussions. Shortly after finding the shell, a boy named Piggy suggests that they “’can use this to call the others. Have a meeting. [Because] they’ll come when they hear [the conch]” (16). As Piggy predicts, the conch effectively brings all the boys together. Whenever the conch is blown, the boys abide by their ethical ideals and yield to the power that they see in the conch. Additionally, Ralph is voted leader of the group because he possesses the conch that called all the boys together. The younger boys feel that “there was something about Ralph as he sat that marked him out: t...

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...oral value, they represent technology and the many ways in which technology can be used.

The novel Lord of the Flies powerfully addresses the theme of civilization versus savagery through the use of symbolic objects, such as the conch shell, the fire, and Piggy’s glasses. The conch shell, which represents democracy and civilization, is at first respected but, as the boys become more savage, they reject these ideals. In comparison, the fire represents ties to civilization but it’s meaning evolves to represent the disarray on the island as primal instincts replace morals. Additionally, the varying roles of Piggy’s glasses, which represent the only technology that the boys possess, display the changing mentality on the island. Golding’s effective use of symbolism conveys his message that, without the influence of society, primal instincts can outweigh one’s morals.