Jack and Simon in Chapter Three of the Lord of the Flies

Jack and Simon in Chapter Three of the Lord of the Flies

In the Lord of the Flies, William Golding makes many contrasts between

his symbolic characters. For example in chapter three, 'Huts on the

beach', many contrasts and similarities are made between the two

characters Jack and Simon. These descriptions give an idea to their

personality and feelings.

The description of Simon in the jungle, and Jack in the woods

highlights many of their differences. Jack is alone and descriptions

like, 'with flared nostrils', and 'ape- like' suggest he is behaving

like an animal. Jack's appearance is also starting to resemble

animals, as his hair has grown, 'longer', and his skin darker with, 'a

mess of dark freckles'. Simon's appearance is described similarly to

jacks. He has ' a coarse mop of black hair,' which was 'long' Simon on

bare feet, like jack and he has dark skin and only wears, 'the remains

of shorts'. This shows that both characters do not take much care in

their appearance. In this sense, living on the island has effected

them both in the same way.

Jack has changed in himself by becoming less prim and proper. He has

started to swear, become more dirty and tatty, 'streaked with brown

earth' and he is wearing only, 'tattered shorts', these factors all

show how jack is loosing his inhibitions and that from the start of

the book he has changed greatly.

The settings of the wood and jungle are quite similar, although the

way Golding presents them greatly changed the perception of Jack and

Simon. Simon, in the jungle is presented in an attractive way by

descriptions like, 'the scent of ripeness' and, 'flower and fruit grow

together on the same tree'. When Simon walks past the candle buds, the

quote, 'the ...

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... but it is evident that he has much wisdom, and says

well thought through comments. An example of this is when Jack and

Ralph are speaking, and Simon abruptly joins in their conversation by

saying, 'as if it was not a good island'. This is meant in a way to

try and make Jack and Ralph consider the point. Then he goes on to

say, 'as if the beastie, the beastie or the snake- thing was real'.

Simon unlike Ralph and Jack, does not find the beastie a threat, and

does not seem scared or frightened about it.

Jack and Ralph both like having the role as leader, and have a want

for power over the lives of the group. Jack says to Ralph, ''you're

chief. You tell 'em off', in a harsh tone, showing he is jealous about

Ralph being leader. Simon, unlike Jack and Ralph shows no desire to be

leader. This reinforces the idea that Simon could be compared to Jesus

figure.