Premium Essay

Lord Of The Flies Quote Analysis

Submitted By
Words 1408
Pages 6
Is power everything that makes one feel worthy or in other words a hero? The answer to this is a resounding "no!" Every hero chooses the right path in order to be given an exceptional reputation of themselves. One does not simply become a hero by the powers they are graced with. Power can make either a ruthless or an admired figure, though it is up to them to choose the right path. The powers the various character's carry within themselves, negatively influences the society because of one's responsibility for their actions, dealing with the consequences and hurting the ones they love. When one fail's to accept responsibility for their actions there are a series of events that follow through. For example, in Lord of the Flies Jack did not …show more content…
As the author described, "He rushed out of the undergrowth and snatched up his spear. The pattering of pig's trotter's died away in the distance." (Golding 49-50) In this quote, the word "spear" symbolized a savage tool which was a representation of Jack's innocence going away. Jack slowly started to clutch onto the side of a savage and masking his identity as a civilized person. On the other hand, Simon who had absolute no play in becoming the leader or better yet having power in his hands was still known to be hero. "... Simon's dead body moved out toward the open sea." (Golding 170) As Simon is the innocent one, he won the respect of readers showing many qualities of a hero without power. In this quote, "open sea," indicated that Simon was spiritual and his death was an allusion to Jesus being sacrificed. It showed how much Simon was connected to the spiritual world, and that he was meant to be a sacrifice to nature as his body was carried out to the sea. Similarly, Ralph's responsibility towards his actions led to him choosing the right path rather than …show more content…
For example, in Lord of the Flies Piggy's reaction to Simon's death demonstrated how lightly Piggy took responsibility for his action. As an evident, "It was an accident, said Piggy stubbornly, and that's that." (Golding 174) This shows that Piggy was denying the fact that they had killed Simon. Though, they were all responsible for their actions he kept insisting that it was just an accident. Moreover, Simon's reaction when he found out that Lord of the Flies was the beast within themselves was more important than what he had actually seen. When Lord of the Flies said "There isn't anyone to help you. Only Me. And I'm the Beast." (Golding 158) it showed how the author was trying to portray the ideas of mankind being the beast within themselves. Therefore, the beast represented the evil and darkness inside of them. The society's opinion was overpowered of what he was trying to say resulting in his death. Along with that, Ralph's reaction to Jack lighting the fire out is another factor that determined their responsibility towards their actions. When Ralph said "You didn't ought to have let that fire out. You said you'd keep the smoke going-" (Golding 75) it demonstrated that Ralph cared about living not surviving. On the other hand, Jack cared more about surviving than being rescued. In this situation, being rescued was equal to living and surviving was equal to death.

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Lord Of The Flies Quote Analysis

...Lord of the Flies is an extraordinarily well-written novel that teaches one how human nature differs from one person to another. Lord of the Flies shows how human nature in all of us drives our actions. We can follow the rules of society and be civilized or follow impulses that may lead to our destruction. Human nature in the primary theme in Lord of the Flies. In Lord of the Flies the beast symbolizes the dark side of human nature and how it had a horrible effect on kids behavior in the land. “However Simon thought of the beast there rose before his inward sight the picture of a human at once heroic and sick” ( 128). This quote explain how human beings are evil. Golding provides his view of human nature very early in the novel “All round...

Words: 345 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

The Lord Of The Flies Quote Analysis

...Every living being has the ability to be bad or if put in a tough situation became bad even if not inherently so. This message is conveyed in multiple scenarios throughout history like when Stanley Milgram held the electric shock experiments at yale university in 1963(the bad show podcast). This experiment proved that even a normal human could do horrible things to another and we all have a beast within ourselves. In the book The Lord Of The Flies by William Golding, there are multiple examples of symbolism. Some examples include, the conch, Piggy's glasses, and the killing of the pig. The story starts odd during the time of world war two. Many british school boys are evacuating the country on a plane. It is shot down and crashes onto a deserted island where the boys form a small government making their leader: Ralph. The boys quickly realize they must somehow signal for help and build a large fire using Piggys glasses, the fire burns the entire forest down and even kills one boy. The conch is found by Ralph and Piggy when they got off the plane and start walking a long the beach. They use it as a horn to call out to all the other boys. Ralph blew a series of short blasts” (page 15). The conch is a symbol of organisation at first because it allows the person holding it to speak about issues at...

Words: 609 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Lord Of The Flies Quote Analysis

...Symbolism has many uses for different authors but in this novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding he uses it to show the faults in the real world's society. A few examples of this is the littluns, piggy's glasses, and the scar on the island all show faults of human nature. Golding uses the littluns to symbolize the masses of people and how they blindly follow anybody and don’t speak their opinion. In the story when all the older kids laugh the littluns start to laugh because the older kids did too. “A storm of laughter arose and even the tiniest child joined in” (Golding 21). This quote shows the fault in our society by using the littluns who blindly follow and do whatever the older kids do. Once Ralph and Jack start to laugh the littluns laugh but only after they start to. Another way Golding uses the littluns to show faults in our society is people not speaking their opinion. When one of the littluns tries to speak and he’s laughed at and doesn't share his opinion “The small boy held out his hands for the conch and the...

Words: 585 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Lord Of The Flies Quote Analysis

...they are on now. Ralph's main focus is to build a fire as a signal to other ships that may pass by the island. Jacks’ is too hunt and kill the pigs for meat. Jack and Ralph begin a bond and friendship while they hunt together as leaders. On page 29 the quote “ Eyes shining, mouths open, triumphant, they savored the right of domination, they were lifted up, were friends” (Golding, William 29). This explains how Ralph and Jack felt after going on their first hunt together. This is the kind of bond that they need to both hold on to their civility. The author almost makes it seem like if this friendship is lost they a part of themselves and can easily be overtaken by envy, the feeling of power, and hatred. It...

Words: 653 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Conch Lord Of The Flies Quote Analysis

...In the lord of the flies, the conch represents power and order. Power is represented by the fact that you have to be holding it to speak. While order is shown by the meetings and gatherings in which it is used to call and hold. The conch is powerful. The conch is power is first shown on page 22 as the children vote for ralph to be chief of the boys has he was the one to discover the conch. “him with the shelf, Ralph! Ralph!”, let him be chief with the trumpet thing”. This quote shows that all the boys believe this conch holds some sort of power, responsibility and leadership. The conch is used many times in the begging of the book, it is the conch that can only call boys to meetings. No other tool possesses such great power throughout the...

Words: 458 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Allegory In Lord Of The Flies Quote Analysis

...“Exploiting people's emotions of fear, envy and anxiety is not hope, it's not change, it's partisanship. We don't need partisanship. We don't need demagoguery, we need solutions,” -Paul Ryan. In a society it is essential that we recognize how fear can be used as a tool, as demonstrated in Golding’s novel Lord of the Flies. In the book, a group of boys are deserted on an uninhabited island, in which a new society rises and then crumbles through the means of savagery. The Lord of the Flies presents an allegory which warn us that people will use fear as a means to gain power, destroy any attempts of reason, and bring society into a perpetual state of chaos. Throughout history, there are many people who have sought to use fear upon a group of people...

Words: 770 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Freedom Lord Of The Flies Quote Analysis

...An individuals freedom is shaped by people, places and the influences around them. In the novel Lord Of The Flies, Golding has explored the perspective of freedom when there are no restrictions surrounding us where one can do as they please. During the novel, the personalities of the boys differ from their experience of witnessing war and formal training. Thus, affecting their freedom as past events influence individuals differently, changing the way in which they act causing clashings of personality. For example, Jack wants to be in constant power, shown in the QUOTE. In contrast, Piggy is smart and wants to do what is right. This is expressed in thre QUOTE Furthermore, in the novel we were never told Piggys real name because the boys...

Words: 409 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Ralph Lord Of The Flies Quote Analysis

..."I agree with Ralph. We've got to have rules and obey them. After all, we're not savages. We're English, and the English are the best at everything. So we've got to do the right things.". This is one of the first things that Jack said to all the boys, and it shows that before the savagery took over he believed a leader would be the best for all of them, but he did indeed let the savagery take over, and started to believe that there should not be rules. In fact, Jack even said "bullocks to rules" so it shows that he has changed. Which means that, the best leader in this case would have been Ralph, because he has stayed grounded, and has not drastically changed, he is more of a logical thinker, doesn't give in to the savagery, and always keeps his eyes on the goal of rescue. Ralph actually gets things done, unlike Jack who says things will get done, but he, his hunters, and the boys who chose him do not have shelters, or a system for gathering food, nor a system for using the bathroom. Ralph also cares for all of the boys, the littuns' included. Ralph made sure everybody had shelters and made sure he knew where the boys were at all times, a perfect example of this is when he didn't know where Simon was, he was in his secret place in the forest, and he knew that something was off, but couldn't figure out what. On big example of how Ralph cared for the littuns' is when he made shelters, he made them not only to keep the rain off of the them, but also to remind them home and ward...

Words: 1066 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Hamlet Lord Of The Flies Quote Analysis

...Hamlet and Lord of flies essay. “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in the moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy,” is a strong quote by Martin Luther King Jr which is a statement that I think is true. A man cannot be judged on his actions when he is comfortable, but when he is going through challenges and hardship. Literary work that shows this is true is in the book Hamlet by William Shakespeare, the character Hamlet is found in conflicts and dilemmas that he cannot solve. This quote is also true in Lord of the flies by the character Ralph who tries to find out who the beast is but cannot see that it is the savagery between the boys on the Island and the character piggy...

Words: 1057 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Simon Lord Of The Flies Quote Analysis

...The theme of Lord of the flies is savagery versus civilization. Throughout the story, the boy’s face many challenges. While stranded, the boys have to learn how to survive. During this, some boys rose to the occasion while others became ruthless. When learning how to hunt, some of the boys get so into it, it is all they can think about. The need to kill the pig is their main desire. While the other boys try to find a way off the island. Ralph, Simon, and Piggy want to escape the madness and return to civilization. In William Golding’s book Lord of the flies, many symbols are used to represent the theme. The first symbol in the novel is Ralph. Ralph represents order. When the boys are stranded, Ralph decides that the boys need a leader. He thinks they need to establish rules so they can maintain order. When on the island, all the boys shout and argue. As a result, Ralph finds a conch shell; he blows into it to get the boys’ attention. He then makes a rule...

Words: 545 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Ralph Lord Of The Flies Quote Analysis

...everything to be in order like a civilized world. Ralph’s motivations were to build shelter, keeping everything organized and stable and figuring out methods to be rescued. “I was talking about smoke! Don’t you want to be rescued”, (page 45). The quote signifies that while Jack and the littluns were to busy horseplaying he was focused on keeping the fire going in order to be rescued. Ralph states, “We need shelters” (page 42). As Ralph gives that statement, it displays how he wanted an area for everyone to feel secure and away from harm. “Listen, everybody. I got to have time to think things out. I can’t decide what to do straight off. Everybody must stay around here and wait and not go away” (pg). That shows that Ralph is trying to keep everything arranged and make everyone stay calm. Ralph did contribute to the tragedy of the group splitting up and becoming savages by not allowing Jack to hunt and demanding them to keep the fire going so they can be rescued. “You and your blood, Jack Merridew! You and your hunting! We might have gone home-”(page 58). The idea that Ralph shouts at him for not keeping the fire going endlessly is what caused Jack to make...

Words: 428 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Spear In Lord Of The Flies Quote Analysis

...What constitutes a society. Is it the individual within society or the society itself. In the Lord of the Flies by William Golding a spear represents the thin line between "modern" and primitive society. One part of this thin line between modernity and primitiveness is "Then he sneaked forward and raised his spear" (49) which represents what the boys have deemed worth gathering and hunting. While in modern society and "normal" society it isn't normal to gather weapons like spears or other things because hunting has been replaced by going to the store and buying preprocessed food. Another way the boys are different and have created their own society is who they emulate. In the boys' society and their minds it is the hunters who are worthy of glory because they bring in food and have power over all others while Ralph and Piggy are nothing but no fun . While in normal society people emulate everyone because people in positions of supposed power keep everyone else in line with them....

Words: 617 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Savagery Lord Of The Flies Quote Analysis

...Throughout the novel lord of the flies, the way the boys develop the instinct towards savagery is threw the boys way of authority and personality. For example when jack says “ listen, all of you. Me and my hunters, were living along the beach by a flat rock. We hunt and feast and have fun. If you want to join my tribe come see us. Perhaps i'll let you join” The reason why I chose this quote is because it shows how jack demands the complete trust of the boys and for the boys to worship him as a idol. In the book it shows how jack hunges for power. Also one example of savagery is when jack and his tribe start chanting “ kill the pig. Cut her throat . bash her in.” the reason why I chose this quote is because it shows how they used their savage...

Words: 544 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Piggy Lord Of The Flies Quote Analysis

...Piggy didn't lose his morals; he always kept his strong belief in order, civilization, and doing the right thing. Piggy gets angry when rules are broken. "'They've got our fire.' Rage shrilled his voice. 'They stole it!' 'That's them,' said Piggy. 'They blinded me. See? That's Jack Merridew. You call an assembly, Ralph, we got to decide what to do,'" (chapter 11). Piggy is very angry that Jack has done wrong by stealing his glasses. He wants things to be done correctly, he is very opposed to Jack’s way of doing things. Piggy strongly believes in the power of Ralph's position as chief. He believes in the order of calling an assembly to fix what has been done wrong. Piggy also strongly believes in doing things in the right way. Piggy states his plan to get back his stolen glasses from Jack. He says "I'm going to him with this conch in my hands. I’m going to hold it out. Look, I'm goin' to say, you're stronger than I am and you haven't got asthma. You can see, I'm goin' to say, and with both eyes. But I don't ask for my glasses back, not as a favor. I don't ask you to be a sport, I'll say, not because you're strong, but because what's right's right. Give me my glasses, I'm going to say - you got to!'" (chapter 11). Piggy wants his glasses from Jack. He says that it was wrong of a Jack. He doesn't want them back as a favor, he wants them back because it is the right thing to do. This shows that Piggy firmly believes in doing the right thing. Piggy questions the boys’ beliefs in Jack’s...

Words: 481 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Conch Lord Of The Flies Quote Analysis

...Prize-winning English author William Golding and his novel, Lord of the Flies depicts a group of boys stranded on an uninhabited island after their plane got shot down with the pilot dead. Stranded with no parental supervision, Ralph and Piggy, two school boys bump into each other and attempt contact the other boys using the conch which they found glistening in the sand. When the boys finally gather together as a whole, they attempt to create an organized society using the conch as a symbol of leadership. Because Ralph called them with the conch, he was thought to be heroic and noble which led to him being voted chief much to Jack’s dismay. While the conch initially appears to represent law and order, Jack’s rise to power ultimately reveals...

Words: 939 - Pages: 4