Lord of the Flies Essay

The Use of Symbolism in Lord of the Flies

            In the novel, Lord of the Flies, the author William Golding shows the movement from order and organization to anarchy and turmoil through the use of symbolism. The symbols used in the novel support Golding's view of humanity. He believes that all humans have a dark side that can cause a breakdown of society's ethical standards if this dark side overcomes one's reasoning and right thinking. The author also believes that savagery is more powerful than reason. Golding's view of human nature is portrayed by three main symbols that foreshadow events that occur on the island. One of the symbols is the creamy conch which Ralph, the novel’s protagonist who is elected leader of the group of boys marooned on the island, possesses The conch symbolizes the rules and order that connect society to civilization with the democracy, organization and respect which it entails. Another symbol used in the novel is Piggy’s glasses or “specs”. Piggy is a whiny intellectual boy who is also Ralph’s “lieutenant.” The specs are a symbol of intelligence and the power of science since the author creates the character's image as an adult-like figure. The slow deterioration of the glasses foreshadows the events of the plot. Ultimately, in contrast to the glasses, Jack's knife symbolizes the boys` savagery and the growing antagonism among the inhabitants of the island. Jack is the antagonist of the novel and becomes the leader of the hunters who longs for total power and control. Therefore, throughout Lord of the Flies, Golding, uses objects, such as the glasses, knife and the conch, as symbols to reveal his belief about human nature, with its contrasting poles of kindness, rationality, power and bloodlust.

        The first symbol that becomes evident in Lord of the Flies is the conch shell. When the shell is first discovered lying on the sandy beach it is blown to signal all the boys, scattered across the island, to meet at one spot.... [continues]

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