Lord of the Flies Symbolism
Man is a fallen being. He is gripped by original sin. His nature is sinful, and this leads to chaotic consequences. In Lord of the Flies, William Golding presents the theme of man's capacity for evil and its effects on the deterioration of society. This idea is displayed through symbols in the novel, especially objects and the characters. The characters, which serve as allegorical symbols for various human types, begin a descent into primitive and bloodthirsty savagery. Instead of being presented as well-rounded individuals, they each display specific qualities that are found in every man. Ralph, the protagonist, expresses rational thought and ethical behavior under the unsupervised circumstances. He portrays the role of government in any modern society. While he wants to satisfy the wishes of the public, he also realizes that certain rules of conduct must be followed in order to prevent anarchy. Jack is Ralph's antithesis who represents anarchy and savagery. Piggy is Ralph's stabilizing force; he is the intellectual power of the society. Simon,
Lord of the Flies is a novel that shows that the evil inside man can cause him to revert back to the savage roots of his ancestors. The deterioration of the island society is symbolized through the characters and objects in the novel. At the end, Ralph weeps for "the end of innocence" and "the darkness of man's heart." Every man has a dark side. Golding proves that this dark side is revealed when man is isolated from civilization and gives in to his barely suppressed savage tendencies. Another important symbol in the disintegration of the island society is the glasses. The glasses, belonging to Piggy, stand for clearsightedness and hope. Because Piggy gains insight from observation, his glasses are essential for him to gain knowledge. When Piggy's glasses are shattered, this shows the increasing absence of sense and reason among the boys. The glasses are also used for starting the fire; hence they are the true symbol of authority. When possessed by Piggy, the glasses are used to start the signal fire. However, when Jack steals them, their purpose is perverted, and they
Some common words found in the essay are:
Piggy Ralph's, William Golding, Lord Flies, Fall Savagery, Ralph Ironically, Ultimately Jack, Jack Ralph's, lord flies, fire create, pig's head, evil inside, island society, signal fire,
Approximate Word count = 733
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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