Free Essay

Lord of the Flies Paper

In: English and Literature

Submitted By ahop66
Words 659
Pages 3
Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, is one of the most symbolic books of its time. Golding employs symbolism so freely in the story that nearly everything in the book has a deeper meaning than one would think. From the conch shell used to call meetings together, to piggy’s glasses, to The Beast, to the dreadful Lord of the Flies himself; all of these things are symbols of much deeper aspects of humanity. Even many of the characters are symbols of deeper things, of carnal desires or raw emotions unexpressed by most. Overall, Golding out did himself with this book, managing to create a world where everything means something deeper. A big symbol in the story is the Conch Shell, the magical item that is used to summon the other boys to meetings, and grants the holder the right to speak. This shell becomes a powerful symbol of civility and order in the novel, and effectively governs all the boy’s meetings, as whoever holds it holds the power to speak. When the shell is being used, the boys are generally calm and orderly, highlighting Golding’s intent in putting the shell in the novel, which is to have a symbol of the civility of the outside world. As the novel progresses and the island community descends into total anarchy, the shell loses all power over the boys, thus their sense of order is vanquished. This is symbolized when the boulder that crushes piggy also crushes the shell, signifying the demise of the civilized instinct of most of the boys on the island. Another powerful symbol in the story is The Beast, the frightening creature that terrifies all the boys on the island. The Beast is a clear symbol for the savage nature and primal instinct that exists within all human beings. All of the boy’s fear the beast, but Simon reaches the realization that they fear it because it exists within them, that their own savage instincts are what truly scare them. As the boys become more savage, their belief and fear for the beast grow stronger. By the end of the story, Jack’s tribe is leaving it sacrifices and treating it as some type of dreadful god, hoping to appease its awful appetite. However, the reality of the situation is that the boy’s behavior is what brings The Beast into existence, so that the more savagely they act, the more powerful the Beast becomes in their own minds. It is important to realize that Lord of the Flies is a very allegorical novel, and that many of the characters signify certain ideas or themes. This is evident in the cases of Ralph, Roger, Jack, and Simon. Ralph represents order, civility, and leadership. This is apparent in the way that he leads the tribe in the beginning, utilizing the power of the conch (another symbol of order on the island). Roger represents brutality and bloodlust at their most extreme. Jack symbolizes the unbridled savagery and the deep, carnal hunger for power that exist in everyone. And finally, Simon signifies the aspect of innate human goodness. All of these symbols possess varying forms of power and meaning throughout the novel. When Simon is killed, this represents the final departure of goodness from the island, giving full reign to Jack’s band of savages, and realizing Jack’s thirst for power. To conclude, Lord of the Flies is an extremely symbolic and allegorical novel, masterfully crafted by William Golding to show his readers the primal instincts in all of us. There are many powerful symbols in the novel, representing many powerful subjects, such as the need for order and civilization, the innate desire for power, the natural goodness of humanity, and the natural savagery and bloodlust also in humanity. In the end, Jack’s evil reigns over the island after he kills Piggy and Ralph and lights the island on fire. I’m not sure what this symbolizes, but I’m sure it’s not pleasant.

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Lord of the Flies Position Paper

...Are humans by nature inherently evil  Lord of the Flies provides one with a clear understanding of Golding's view of human nature?  Whether this view is right or wrong is a point to be debated.  This image Golding paints for the reader that of humans being inherently bad, is a perspective not all people share.   Lord of the Flies is but an abstract tool of Golding's to construct the idea of the inherent evil of human nature in the minds of his readers.  To construct this idea of the inherent evil, Golding employs the symbolism of Simon, Ralph, the hunt and the island. Golding drives the point that the instinctual evil within man is inescapable.  At one point in the book, when the Lord of the Flies is representing all evil, this theory is stated as, "The Lord of the Flies was expanding like a balloon".  Along with this idea is the religious symbolism that is used for ineffectively confronting the evil.  At a point in the book, Golding has Simon, symbolic of Jesus Christ, confront the Lord of the Flies.  This is a pig's head on a stick that is imagined to talk and represent the evil in all humans.  Simon tries to act and spread the knowledge of this evil to others but is killed.  This is a direct reference to the death of Christ, alluding to the Holy Bible.  At many points throughout Lord of the Flies, Golding writes for the characters to become gradually more and more evil.  This attribute even reaches the symbols of goodness and order, such as Ralph.  Once, when Ralph and...

Words: 728 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Lord of the Flies Research Paper

...Although there is a lack of light imagery in Lord of the Flies by William Golding, because of the frequent use of dark imagery to give an impending sense of despair, both light and dark imagery are still crucial to this novel. Light and dark imagery is an archetype that is used to give readers a better understanding of a story in some writer’s works. In the case of light vs. darkness, light usually suggests hope, renewal, or intellectual illumination; darkness implies the unknown, ignorance, or despair. Light can also be associated with the color white, which can represent the following: “innocence”, “goodness”, and “morality,” (Archetypes). Darkness can be associated with the color black, allowing darkness to represent the following: “the unknown”, “death”, “the unconscious”, or “evil” (Archetypes). All of these things can also be linked to morality- the id, ego, and superego. The id can be classified as “the primitive and instinctive component of personality”; ego can be classified as the part of the personality that “develops in order to mediate between the unrealistic id and the external real world”, and superego can be classified as the part of the personality that incorporates the values and morals of society which are learned from one's parents and others.” (McLeod). In Lord of the Flies, Many of the evil deeds in the story are committed at night, representing darkness. A perfect example of an evil deed that is committed at night would be the murder of Simon by all...

Words: 1050 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Evil In Lord Of The Flies Research Paper

...Innate evil resides in all humans no matter age, gender, race or religion. Evil within us since our birth and will stay with us until the day we die. William Golding’s Lord of the flies has a great depiction what happens to a group of boy’s transformation to savagery and how they are able to release their inner evils when exposed to a certain environment or situation. Cut off from the outside world and trapped on an island, the boys, once civilized and innocent begin perform more savage actions in order to survive, increasing their hostility towards others showing that all humans are plagued with a natural evil. By examining the death of the two boys, Jack’s role of the hunter (and how this has driven him to savagery) and the lord of the flies (also known as the beast), we can...

Words: 1169 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Dbq 7 Lord Of The Flies Research Paper

...THE LORD OF THE FLIES AND LOST Lord of the flies and lost are very similar because in both of them they face death. In the story lord of the flies piggy, and simon die, and in lost the marshal dies. The real question is if these characters have been murdered. Murder can be first or second degree. First degree murder requires hatred and premeditation (Doc A), but 2nd degree murder involves intention but not hatred and premeditation(Doc A). While Piggy’s death was 2st degree murder and Simon’s death was 1nd degree murder, Mars’s death was 2nd degree murder. Piggy death was most likely 2nd degree murder because roger had the intention to hurt piggy. Roger feels powerful when he throws pebbles at the other boys (Doc F) Roger is overcome by “a...

Words: 251 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Loss Of Innocence In Lord Of The Flies Research Paper

..."The mask was a thing on its own, behind which Jack hid, liberated from shame and self-consciousness" (Golding, 64) Loss of innocence is a strong topic in Lord of the Flies, the three topics that will be talked about in this essay includes, the boys acting without fear of punishment, they had to grow up and civilization helped them remain innocent and once they became savages they lost all remaining innocence. The loss of innocence is clearly shown in the boys because they are forced to grow up. They can’t play around any more but now they have to hunt and care for themselves. “We’ll make sure when we go hunting” (Golding, 35) This is when they realize they can't play around anymore or act like young boys but they have to grow up and start hunting and find resources so that they don’t die or get sick. Another time they lost...

Words: 792 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Conch Shell In Lord Of The Flies Research Paper

...Imagine life with no rules, supervision, and no responsibilities. Does it sound great? A group of boys found that the greatness of total freedom was short-lived. In the novel, Lord of the Flies by William Golding, a group of boys find out certain things they were once grateful for. This novel is an allegorical novel because of its major symbols. These symbols represent the fate of the boys and how they should appreciate what they had. The first major symbol is the conch shell. The shell is first used to gather everyone out of the forest. The group crashed on this island and were separated throughout the forest. By blowing the conch shell, everyone was reunited. However, the conch shell took on a very different meaning shortly after. "'That's what this shell's called. I'll give the conch to the next person to speak. He can hold it when he's speaking'" (Golding 33). The conch is now a symbol of power. Whoever has the conch is allowed to speak. No one else is allowed to interrupt the speaker with the conch. This power soon goes to the boys' head. "The rock struck Piggy a...

Words: 704 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Ralph Vs Jack In Lord Of The Flies Research Paper

...With all of the chaos erupting on the island in the book "Lord of the Flies' by William Golding, Jack tends to stir the pot between him and Ralph. Jack does many things to put Ralph in trouble and make him seem like a bad person. Ralph is a better leader than Jack in Lord Of The Flies. The first reason why Ralph is a better leader than Jack is because of his ability to stay calm when tensions between the group arise. On page 33, it is said by Ralph that "That's what this shell's called." I'll give the conch to the next person to speak to. He can hold it when he's speaking." And he won't be interrupted. Except by me. This shows that Ralph is prioritizing the peace between everyone and ensuring that when people want to speak, they can. This example of Ralph using the conch supports my claim because when the conch is allowed to be used by a certain person, this creates the person to be able to share what they are feeling without backlash or judgment in the moment, which internally and externally creates calmness within them, which makes people feel secure and safe with Ralph being the leader that he is....

Words: 545 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Term Paper: the Analysis of Lord of the Flies by William Golding

...Analysis of the Major Characters In Lord of the Flies by William Golding In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements in English 140 Submitted by: Ryan Mark L. Catanio Submitted to: Prof. Donna Alna C. Cortez September 08, 2014 A. Author’s Biography William Golding Biography Author (1911–1993) a. Synopsis William Golding was born September 19, 1911, in Saint Columb Minor, Cornwall, England. In 1935 he started teaching English and philosophy in Salisbury. He temporarily left teaching in 1940 to join the Royal Navy. In 1954 he published his first novel, Lord of the Flies. In 1983, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. On June 19, 1993, he died in Perranarworthal, Cornwall, England. b. Early Life William Golding was born on September 19, 1911, in Saint Columb Minor, Cornwall, England. He was raised in a 14th-century house next door to a graveyard. His mother, Mildred, was an active suffragette who fought for women’s right to vote. His father, Alex, worked as a schoolmaster. William received his early education at the school his father ran, Marlborough Grammar School. When William was just 12 years old, he attempted, unsuccessfully, to write a novel. A frustrated child, he found an outlet in bullying his peers. Later in life, William would describe his childhood self as a brat, even going so far as to say, “I enjoyed hurting people.” After primary school, William went on to attend Brasenose College at Oxford University. His father hoped he would become...

Words: 4218 - Pages: 17

Premium Essay

Savage Act In Lord Of The Flies Essay

...What is a savage act? In the book Lord of the Flies, by William Golding shows many ways different people are affected by the wilderness and their environment . As well as well as how people can revert back to savagery. This is because a human’s origin is one of from savagery to civilization Yet, people can revert back to how humans used to being like cavemen The main idea of this paragraph is how Jack changed through the book The lord of the flies. For example when Jack got to the island he was a kind, but a more strict boy. However he changed for the worse “Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill its blood!”(Golding 152). In the beginning Jack could not kill the pig but he had changed so much that he could abuse and kill Simon; This may be because it was night and they were crazy hyped The next connection is the flash mobs in Philadelphia because it started as fun times and pillow fights, but ended up getting violent. Here is a small quote from the paper mobs are born as the word grows by text message...

Words: 439 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Similarities Between Asch Conformity Experiment And Lord Of The Flies

...The “Asch Conformity Experiment” and the book Lord of the flies shows that people will go along with the crowd whenever there are unacquainted people there. In the book Lord of the flies a bunch of British boys are flying in a plane and shot down. The pilot dies and the go down on an island, so they are left to fend for themselves without adult supervision. When the plane first crashes the boys are scattered all over the island and then Ralph, the main character, finds a conch shell, then he blows it and all the boys regroup. Ralph focuses on important things like building signal fires and things, while Jack and his boys want to focus on things like hunting and the fun things. Eventually they get into an argument about it and Jack ends up leaving Ralph group and taking all of the crowd except for Ralph....

Words: 548 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Flord of the Flies Movie Review

...Lord of the Flies is a 1963 British film directed by Peter Brook based on the 1954 novel by William Golding. Both the book and movie of Lord of the Flies represent popular culture in the fact that the book started out being popularized by the working class and would later become a best seller and even move into the category of high culture by becoming required reading in many schools across the world as well as wining the Nobel Prize. The Lord of the Flies and book and movie demonstrate many of the traits that are often reproduced in various form media and often imitated in other works of film, television, and reading. Lord of the Flies was remade into another film in 1990 but the 1963 film is considered to be closer to the book and is the one that is used by this paper. The 1963 Lord of the Flies film is a black and white British film that is presented in the form of a third person narrative in which the audience is a outside party looking in on the cast of the film. The film is about a group of young pre-teen to teenage boys who crash land on an island somewhere is the specific ocean as a result of their plane being shoot down. In the background of the movie there is some type of war but the film never mentioned which war is taking place. With the film being based on a book from the 1950s and the film taking place in the 1960 it can be assumed that the war in question is either World War II or perhaps a future war. In the film the overall theme is that violence and hate...

Words: 1593 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

Research Paper

...Lord Of The Flies And Othello Comparison Essay, Research Paper Lord of the Flies and Othello Comparison The age-old theme of good versus evil is presented in both William Golding s Lord of the Flies (LOTF), and William Shakespeare s Othello. The characters are used to show the battle between the two. Simon and Desdemona who represent purity and embody an innate goodness are challenged by many characters that do not possess the same holy qualities- who have actually subsided to the evil that is, in every way, their opposite. Jack and Iago represent the evil in the novels. Unfortunately in both pieces we see the loss of life for the pure characters through the clutches of evil. The evil does not necessarily win, as both characters maintain their standings as upright and completely pure individuals, even in their brutal murders. Simon and Desdemona clearly represent all that is good in the world. The characters are portrayed by the authors to be very understanding and compassionate individuals. Desdemona expresses in her language and actions, an innocent, unselfish love and concern for others. This is evident when Desdemona makes pleas on behalf Cassio for Othello s forgiveness, and in her inability to comprehend a woman s desire to cheat. Cassio has asked Desdemona to make a plea to Othello for his return to office. Desdemona, being the compassionate woman that she is asks Othello the first chance she gets, Good my lord, If I have any grace or power to move you,...

Words: 1139 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Lord Of The Flies: Modified Bio Poem

...Lord of the Flies Modified Bio Poem Analyze tension from one character's point of view. Choose one character from the novel and write the following non-rhyming bio poem on a sheet of notebook paper. Do not write "Line 1:" etc. on the page – simply write the content of the line. Line 1: Your character's first name. Line 2: Who is...(write a few descriptive words about the character) Line 3: Who loves...(list three things, ideas, or people) Line 4: Who feels...(list three things) Line 5: Choose a powerful quote from that person. Line 6: Who needs...(list three things) Line 7: Who gives...(list three things) Line 8: Choose a powerful quote from that person. Line 9: Who fears...(list three things) Line 10: Who would like to see......

Words: 372 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Biblical Worldview

...Eve being created and how that effects my worldview on marriage in the world. Also how we define ourselves as a man and a woman and the different roles of each of us that the bible defines for us. How Cain and Abel relantionship with each other defines how we should act and not become jealous with one another. The wickedness in the world when Noah was here and how the Lord saw the world was so evil and destroyed it, which is kind of how I look at our world today. There many topics in these chapters that I will discuss and explain how all of this effects my biblical world view today and what I think of all of it in this paper that I am writing today. Natural World The 1st chapter of the bible pretty much sets out the natural world and all that is in it, in Genesis chapter 1 to 2 the LORD our God makes everything light, darkness, land, sea and all the creatures in the world. He creates Adam and later Eve somewhere to live and basically live off the land. This chapter is the reason the natural world exist and that God was gracious to give us so much in it. Without the beast that roam the earth or the birds that fly in the sky or waters and the land we walk on, I don’t really know how the world would have been. He created it so perfectly and with everything we need to survive it is amazing. We are truly lucky that such a great world was made for us to live in. Human Identity With the creation of Adam and Eve you have the creation of a Man who is created for such a purpose. He...

Words: 1131 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Every Hammond And V For Vendetta Analysis

...Most people receive the question,”Who are you?” at some point in time. Out of all those people that were asked this question, almost all of them will answer with their name, but that is wrong, they are more than a name, a label, a signature on a paper. The real answer is revealed in a conversation between Every Hammond and V from V for Vendetta: “‘Who are you?’ asked Every Hammond.’Who? Who is but a form following the function of what and what I am is a man in a mask,’ V replied.” The face is a mask used to cover one’s soul and the eyes are the only true way to see someone’s true colors, and as seen in Lord of the Flies by William Golding, Ralph and Jack are hidden behind their mask. We can see through their masks by staring deeply into the...

Words: 870 - Pages: 4