William Golding's Lord of the Flies

William Golding's Lord of the Flies

I will look at the establishment of democracy on pages thirty one and

onwards and how the democracy is shattered from page one hundred and

ninety three and onwards.

When the conch was first found it represents something powerful but

fragile and Piggy says "It's ever so valuable" along with "Careful!

You'll break it". When Jack, Ralph and Simon return from the mountain

and hold another meeting there is order and peace along with respect

for people's thoughts. It became "silent" as Ralph "lifted the pink

shell to his knees", he "cleared his throat" and "all at once he found

he could fluently and explain what he had to say". This shows the

great power the shell gave to Ralph giving him confidence to become a

leader and to make people listen to him.

At the meeting they establish that people will raise their hands if

they wish to speak and then the conch will be passed onto them giving

them the right to speak. As in all democracy's people hear things that

the political leader in this case Ralph doesn't want others to hear

which is what Piggy talks about. He says "Who knows we're here? Eh?"

and despite several replies "Piggy put on his glasses" and replied

"Nobody knows where we are" telling the truth as it usually comes out

in a democracy anyway.

The description afterwards is a great example of Golding's skill to

make you feel as though you were there and gives you a clear vivid

picture of the surrounding area. "The silence was so complete that

they could hear the fetch and miss of Piggy's breathing. The sun

slanted in and lay golden over half of the platform. The breezes that

on the lagoon had chased their trails like kittens were finding their

way across the platform and into the forest" The inclusion of Piggy's

breathings makes you recognise how bad the truth was to the children

and that this would cause a problem in the democracy.

Ralph who is the leader tries to keep peoples moral up by pointing out