lord of the flies allegory essay

Lord of the Flies as an allegory

William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies” is considered as one of the greatest novels of all time in English literature for its exceptional plot and relevant societal subjects. The story revolves around a group of schoolboys who are stranded on a tropical island and their useless endeavor to form a civilized society.  As the time goes, their inherent evil and wicked nature become apparent and they nearly end up demolishing the island and each other. The story of the novel is not only moving and captivating but it also works as an allegory. 

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What is an allegory?

An allegory is a fictional story that imparts a meaning not clearly described in the narrative. An allegory incorporates persons, settings, situations that can be explained to act for hidden meaning with moral or political significance. William Golding’s famous novel “Lord of the Flies” is best known as an allegorical novel because it describes the authentic conditions of a group of schoolboys stranded on a tropical island to personify symbolic ideas related to mankind’s innate viciousness and the risk of mob mentality and authoritarian leadership. Generally an allegorical novel uses certain images, persons and places to show abstract concepts for instance a character by the name of The Lover symbolizing the idea of romantic love. 

Backdrop of World War:

In his famous novel “Lord of the Flies” William Golding builds a backdrop of World War for a story about schoolboys trying to create a human society adopting the imagined demolition of civilization. Characters in the novel personify distinct positive and negative sides of mankind. For example, Piggy symbolizes rationality and intelligence, and Jack symbolizes cruelty, evil, and authoritarianism. Objects on the tropical island also act as allegorical purpose; particularly, the conch symbolizes communication, civilization and order. “Lord of the Flies” as an allegorical novel urges readers to raise questions on the ideas that control human interaction and investigates the manners the larger powers affect human lives. By narrating the tale of an isolated group of schoolboys trying to remodel society, the novel questions whether the disruption of societies into war is imminent, and what forces inside us lead us towards self-demolition. 

Lord of the Flies as a societal allegory:

We can read Golding’s “Lord of the Flies” both as a societal allegory and biblical allegory. By interpreting it as a societal allegory, we can say that Ralph symbolizes democracy and civility, keeping the status of leader, and finding the conch, which is itself an emblem of cultured democratic discourse. On the other hand, Piggy, who turns into Ralph’s counselor, symbolizes rationality and intelligence, the keystone of an effective society.  Piggy and Ralph operate as two sections of a totality, with no one of two capable of productively leading without the other. Their association represents the necessity of rationality and intelligence in democracy along with the necessity of leadership capability for the purpose of logic and intelligence to be executed productively. On the contrary, Jack symbolizes both autocratic leadership and a more barbaric instinct approaching disorder. Golding makes use of conflicts of the schoolboys to demonstrate the struggle between democracy and absolutism, in which democracy is considered as civilized and absolutism as savage. Simon, who is brutally murdered, symbolizes inner human morality and goodness that is viciously subdued by the vices of human nature. So the civilized boys as Simon and Ralph utilize their power to save the other boys and forward the goodness of the group, on the other hand, savage boys as Jack and Roger utilize their power to satisfy their own aspirations, using the younger boys as objects for their own pleasure. 

Lord of the Flies as a biblical allegory:

We can also read Golding’s “Lord of the Flies” as a biblical allegory. The Schoolboys are stranded on a garden-of-Eden like island, which provides for all of their requirements. But, rather than being satisfied to live in law and order, they are overcome by fear and eventually demolish their Edenic island with brutal and careless actions. Simon is a Christ-like figure because he plucks fruit for the other boys and converse with nature. He acts generously toward the other boys. He is the first to recognize the problem caused by the monster and the lord of the flies – i.e. the beast on the island is not an actual earthly monster, but rather a wickedness and evil that lies within each human soul. But Simon is murdered before he can convey this message to other boys. Simon’s body splashed into the ocean by “moonbeam-bodied creatures with fiery eyes,” hinting at a depiction of angels descending to escort Simon to heaven. After interpreting Golding’s in this way, we can say that it is a retelling of man’s disobedience from the Book of Genesis in which mankind opposed God and was thrown out from the Edenic Garden. However, Simon’s death, instead of being redeeming of the boys’ evil and wickedness, only carries on to propel them even further towards evil and wickedness. 

Limitations as an allegorical novel:

“Lord of the Flies” does not completely follow the tradition of the allegorical novel, instead it departs from the convention of allegorical novels in that the major characters are completely evolved, conflicted, credible schoolboys. In a conventional allegorical novel, the characters represent a single idea and throughout the novel the author emphasizes only that idea. But this is not the case in “Lord of the Flies” . Most of the characters in the novel, on the contrary, have a degree of uncertainty and are portrayed at first loving and compassionate. Ralph, who signifies decent, broad-minded leadership, is also troubled by indecision and an incapacity to express his belief, or even think with clarity at critical moments. On the other hand, Jack who symbolizes wickedness and evildoing, undergoes moments of fragility and infirmity, as when the boys decide to retain Ralph as their head. Jack is delineated kind heartedly at the start of the novel, and grows extremely hostile as he is influenced by the cruelty he acts on the pigs and other boys. So we can say that instead of staying unchanged and single dimensional, the characters of “Lord of the Flies” transform during the course of the novel. This makes Golding’s novel “Lord of the Flies” distinct from other classical works of allegorical novels.    

Conclusion:

“Lord of the Flies” is broadly read and explained by many scholars both in religious and nonreligious ways. Golding employs the political, societal and biblical subjects to enrich his story and pass on his idea that human beings are wicked and immoral and requires an alliance with God to be complete and good. The novel’s characters, subjects, and setting all evolve basis of the novel on the fall of man, civilized and democracy and the issues of wickedness and absolutism. So because Golding’s novel incorporates characters, setting and situations that can be explained to act for hidden meaning with moral and societal significance that is why we can consider “Lord of the Flies” as an allegorical novel. 

Yes, “Lord of the Flies” is an allegory that employs its characters and plot to represent more abstract ideas that are frequently moral or philosophical.

Allegories in Lord of the Flies?

The novel uses a number of allegories, with objects like the conch shell serving as a metaphor of order and civilization and characters like Jack and Piggy reflecting various facets of human nature.

What is Lord of the Flies an Allegory for?

“Lord of the Flies” is an allegory about the innate savagery of people and how society can fall apart when people are cut off from civilization.

How is Lord of the Flies an allegory?

The novel is an allegorical work because the characters, incidents, and symbols are all employed to convey higher philosophical and moral concepts.

Allegory Definition?

An allegory is a literary device that typically conveys bigger concepts or ideas by using characters, events, or things to symbolize higher symbolic or moral connotations.

Lord of the Flies genre?

“Lord of the Flies” is largely regarded as an allegorical and psychological fiction that examines the dark sides of society and human nature.

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The Lord of the Flies (Allegory Explained)

“The Lord of the Flies” is a classic novel written by William Golding in 1954. The story revolves around a group of boys who are stranded on a deserted island and their attempts to survive. However, the novel is much more than just a tale of survival. It is an allegory that explores the darker aspects of human nature, such as power, corruption, and violence.

One of the primary allegorical interpretations of “The Lord of the Flies” is societal. The characters in the novel represent different types of people in society, such as leaders, followers, and outcasts. Ralph, the protagonist, represents democracy and civilization, while Jack, the antagonist, represents dictatorship and savagery. The novel shows how these two opposing forces clash and how power can corrupt even the most well-intentioned individuals.

Another allegorical interpretation of “The Lord of the Flies” is biblical. The title of the novel is a reference to Beelzebub, a biblical demon associated with chaos, disorder, and evil. The character of Simon represents a Christ-like figure who sees the truth about the boys’ situation but is ultimately rejected and killed. The novel raises questions about the nature of good and evil and the role of religion in society.

Overview of Allegory in ‘The Lord of the Flies’

The Lord of the Flies is an allegorical novel that explores the dark side of human nature. It was written by William Golding and published in 1954. The novel is set on an uninhabited island and tells the story of a group of British schoolboys who are stranded there after a plane crash. The boys attempt to govern themselves, but their attempts at creating a society quickly devolve into chaos and violence.

The novel is an allegory for the breakdown of civilization and the inherent evil that exists in all human beings. The characters in the novel represent different aspects of society, and the island itself represents the world. The conch shell, which is used to call meetings and establish order, represents democracy and civilization. The beast, which the boys believe is on the island, represents the evil that exists within themselves.

Throughout the novel, Golding uses symbolism to convey his message. For example, the character of Ralph represents democracy and civilization, while the character of Jack represents savagery and the breakdown of society. The pig’s head on a stick, which the boys worship as a god, represents the evil that exists within all human beings.

Overall, The Lord of the Flies is a powerful allegory that explores the darkest aspects of human nature. It is a cautionary tale that warns against the dangers of unchecked power and the breakdown of civilization.

Symbolism of Characters

Ralph and Democratic Leadership

Ralph is the protagonist of the novel who symbolizes democratic leadership. He is elected as the leader of the group of boys stranded on the island. Ralph represents the rational and moral side of humanity. He tries to establish rules and order to maintain a civilized society on the island. Ralph’s leadership style is based on consensus and cooperation rather than force. He values the opinions of others and encourages them to participate in decision-making.

Piggy and Intellectual Reason

Piggy is a physically weak boy who represents intellectual reason. He is the voice of reason and logic in the novel. Piggy’s glasses symbolize the power of science and technology. He is the only one who understands how to use them to start a fire, which is crucial for the boys’ survival. Piggy’s intelligence and rational thinking are often ignored and ridiculed by the other boys. He is a victim of bullying and discrimination because of his physical appearance and lack of social skills.

Jack and Dictatorial Rule

Jack is the antagonist of the novel who symbolizes dictatorial rule. He is the leader of the choirboys who later form their own tribe. Jack represents the savage and violent side of humanity. He is obsessed with hunting and killing animals, which reflects his desire for power and domination. Jack’s leadership style is based on fear and intimidation rather than cooperation and consensus. He imposes his will on others and punishes those who disobey him.

Simon and Innate Morality

Simon is a mystic and spiritual boy who symbolizes innate morality. He is the only one who understands the true nature of the beast and tries to communicate it to the others. Simon represents the goodness and compassion in humanity. He is a Christ-like figure who is kind and gentle to others. Simon’s death symbolizes the loss of innocence and the triumph of evil over good.

Roger and Innate Cruelty

Roger is a sadistic and cruel boy who symbolizes innate cruelty. He enjoys hurting and torturing others, which reflects his desire for power and control. Roger represents the destructive and violent side of humanity. He is a follower of Jack and participates in the killing of Simon. Roger’s behavior shows that evil is not just a result of external factors but also a part of human nature.

The Conch Shell and Order

The Conch Shell is a significant symbol in the novel “The Lord of the Flies.” The boys use the conch as a tool to establish order and structure on the island. It represents a civilized society that regulates itself through democratic engagement. The conch is a powerful symbol of authority that assures Ralph’s own authority as chief, and the boys respect its power in some form until it is destroyed.

The conch instills order by controlling who gets to speak. When a person holds the conch, they have the right to speak, and everyone else must listen. The conch ensures that everyone has a voice and that everyone’s opinion is heard. It is a symbol of democracy and fairness, and it allows the boys to establish a system of rules and regulations.

The conch also serves as a way to call the boys together. When Ralph and Piggy discover the conch on the beach at the start of the novel, they use it to summon the boys together after the crash separates them. The conch becomes a way to bring everyone together, and it helps to establish a sense of community.

In conclusion, the conch shell is a significant symbol in “The Lord of the Flies.” It represents order, democracy, and fairness. It is a powerful symbol of authority that assures Ralph’s own authority as chief, and the boys respect its power in some form until it is destroyed. The conch instills order by controlling who gets to speak, and it serves as a way to call the boys together.

The Beast and Innate Fear

In “Lord of the Flies,” the beast is a symbol that represents the innate fear that exists within every human being. The boys on the island are initially afraid of the beast because of their imaginations. They give their fear a name and shape in their minds, which makes it easier to comprehend and deal with. However, as the story progresses, the beast becomes a real entity that is feared by all the boys.

The fear of the beast drives the boys to act irrationally and make poor decisions. For example, they become obsessed with hunting and killing the beast, which takes away from their efforts to be rescued. Additionally, the fear of the beast leads to the breakdown of the boys’ society and their descent into savagery.

The symbolism of the beast in “Lord of the Flies” highlights the idea that humans are not inherently good or evil but have the potential for both. The beast represents the darkness that lies within every human being, waiting to be unleashed. It is only through the constraints of society and civilization that humans can keep their primal instincts in check.

Overall, the beast in “Lord of the Flies” is a powerful symbol that represents the innate fear and darkness that exists within every human being. It is a reminder that humans are not inherently good or evil but have the potential for both.

The Lord of the Flies and the Power of Evil

The Lord of the Flies is a novel that explores the inherent evil in human nature. It presents a world in which a group of boys are stranded on an uninhabited island and must create their own society in order to survive. As the boys attempt to establish a social order, their attempts gradually devolve into savagery.

The novel’s central theme is the power of evil, which is represented by the character of the Lord of the Flies. This character is a pig’s head that is mounted on a stick and worshipped by the boys as a symbol of their primitive instincts. The Lord of the Flies is a manifestation of the boys’ inner demons, and it represents the evil that lies within all human beings.

Throughout the novel, the Lord of the Flies tempts the boys to give in to their darkest impulses. It tells them that there is no hope of being rescued and that they must embrace their savage nature in order to survive. The boys are eventually consumed by their own violence and become the very thing they feared: the beast that haunts their nightmares.

The Lord of the Flies is a powerful allegory that explores the darker side of human nature. It demonstrates that even the most civilized individuals are capable of committing unspeakable acts of violence when pushed to their limits. It is a cautionary tale that warns us of the dangers of giving in to our primal instincts and the importance of maintaining a moral compass in the face of adversity.

Setting as a Microcosm of Society

The Lord of the Flies is set on an isolated island during World War II. This setting forms a microcosm of society, where the boys’ behavior reflects that of adult society. The island is a representation of the larger world, and the boys’ actions are a reflection of the actions of society as a whole.

The boys’ behavior on the island is a reflection of the different types of society that exist in the world. There is a struggle for power, with the boys forming different groups and trying to gain control. This struggle is similar to the political struggles that exist in the world, where different groups fight for control.

The island is also a representation of the different social classes that exist in society. The boys come from different backgrounds and have different personalities, which leads to conflicts between them. This is similar to the conflicts that exist between different social classes in society.

Overall, the setting of The Lord of the Flies is a microcosm of society, where the boys’ behavior reflects the behavior of society as a whole. The novel shows how the struggle for power and the conflicts between different groups can lead to chaos and destruction.

Themes and Motifs

Civilization vs. savagery.

The theme of civilization vs. savagery is central to The Lord of the Flies. The novel explores the tension between the two opposing forces as the boys struggle to survive on the island. The boys initially try to maintain a sense of order and establish rules, but as time goes on, they become increasingly savage. This is exemplified by the transformation of Jack, who becomes more and more aggressive and violent as the novel progresses. The conflict between civilization and savagery ultimately leads to the boys’ downfall.

Loss of Innocence

Another important theme in The Lord of the Flies is the loss of innocence. The boys start out as innocent children, but their experiences on the island force them to confront the harsh realities of life. They are forced to kill animals for food, and eventually, they turn on each other. The loss of innocence is exemplified by the character of Simon, who is the only boy who truly understands the nature of the beast and the darkness within the boys themselves.

Power and Control

The theme of power and control is also central to The Lord of the Flies. The struggle for power between Ralph and Jack is a microcosm of the larger struggle between civilization and savagery. Ralph represents order and democracy, while Jack represents tyranny and dictatorship. As the novel progresses, Jack becomes more and more powerful, eventually leading to the boys’ complete descent into savagery. The struggle for power ultimately reveals the boys’ true nature and their inability to maintain order and civilization without the constraints of society.

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Lord of the Flies

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Lord of the Flies , novel by William Golding , published in 1954. The book explores the dark side of human nature and stresses the importance of reason and intelligence as tools for dealing with the chaos of existence.

In the novel, children are evacuated from Britain because of a nuclear war. One airplane, with adults and prep-school boys as passengers, crashes on an uninhabited island, and all the adults are killed. As the boys fashion their own society, their attempts at establishing a social order gradually devolve into savagery. Finally abandoning all moral constraints, the boys commit murder before they are rescued and returned to civilization.

Lord of the Flies, an Allegorical Novel by William Golding Essay

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Introduction

The plot of the novel, the main idea.

Lord of the Flies is an allegorical novel. Written by William Golding, it appeals to your sympathy and arouses compassion. This novel captures your attention and makes your imagination work as the story is described in vivid colors. No wonder ‘Lord of the Flies’ is required reading in many schools and colleges nowadays, as it deserves its rank ‘bestseller’.

There are several strands to the plot of this novel. A group of boys, being strand on a tropical island, tried to govern themselves. This kind of effort turned out to be not a good idea. As the auction proceeds, the reader follows the heartbreaking events of the book. Boys of 6 to 12 ages, struggle to survive on an island.

The novel itself represents the middle fifties. It embodies society’s laws and its morals at those times.

The leadership race is observed. Ralph, an athletic and charismatic boy, elected as a leader, faces resistance from Jack Merridew. Though, while observing the island, the boys found a trapped piglet, which Jack hesitated to kill. It was a potential food they could have got, but because of Jack’s cowardness and fear, the bag escaped. It cracked Jack’s leadership position.

There is another character, opposite to those, listed above. Piggy is a boy, who has been mistreated constantly. No one noticed anything else except his overweight, thick glasses, and asthma. Piggy symbolizes a vulnerable child just like the wild pigs are, being hunted for. Though, the most precious and important ideas came to Piggy’s head. Such as fire and shelter making. Piggy is also a victim of the story, as he is the only one to wear glasses. Those disgusting, thick glasses, that no one liked at first, turned out to be almost the most valuable thing on the island. Due to them, boys made a signal fire, so that any passing-by ship could see it and pick up the boys. This serves as proof that boys have not completely lost their minds and became wild.

The signal fire symbolizes the desire of boys to be rescued. As the fire goes low or stop, it seems like they are fully losing hope. The fire goes out of control and scorches half of the island. The boy with a birthmark on his face disappears during the fire and never comes back again.

Life on an island gradually becomes disorganized. Chaos invades when a ship passes by without knowing the boys were there because the fire went out.

The leadership race gets worse between Jack and Ralf. Ralph represents democracy, whereas Jack is an exact example of a tyrant.

As the military planes have a dogfight over the island, one of the pilots’ parachutes out of his plane. Sam and Eric consider him to be the ‘beast’ and cause mass panic among the boys. After the investigation expedition fails, Jack calls for another election but does not get any vote. He leaves Ralph’s tribe and creates his own.

Boys hunt down a pig and place its head on a stick as an ‘offering’ to the ‘beast’. Simon, walking by the ‘Lord of the Flies’, hears the head speaking to him. It foreshadows Simon’s fate. Discovering that the ‘beast’ is a dead pilot, he hurries down the mountain to tell everybody the news. But the boys spear him to death.

Jacks’ tribe steals Piggy’s glasses to survive. Piggy demands the glasses back but is killed by Roger. The situation becomes more tensed when Jack fails to kill Ralph. While doing this the boys set up a forest fire which is seen by a naval vessel passing by. One of the officers comes ashore to rescue Ralph and the rest of the boys. The irony is that Ralph has been the one who kept on reminding others of the fire. This time the rescue fire was lit to kill him.

The main idea of the book reveals human nature. The question is: ‘what is more important – a leader’s position or a precious life?’

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Lord of The Flies — Analysis Of Allegory In The Lord Of The Flies By William Golding

Analysis of Allegory in The Lord of The Flies by William Golding

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'Lord of the Flies' Themes, Symbols, and Literary Devices

• B.A., English, Rutgers University

Lord of the Flies , William Golding's tale of British schoolboys stranded on a deserted island, is nightmarish and brutal. Through its exploration of themes including good versus evil, illusion versus reality, and chaos versus order, Lord of the Flies raises powerful questions about the nature of humankind.

Good vs. Evil

The central theme of Lord of the Flies is human nature: are we naturally good, naturally evil, or something else entirely? This question runs through the entire novel from beginning to end.

When the boys gather on the beach for the first time, summoned by the sound of the conch, they have not yet internalized the fact that they are now outside the normal bounds of civilization. Notably, one boy, Roger, remembers throwing stones at younger boys but deliberately missing his targets for fear of retribution by adults. The boys decide to set up a democratic society in order to maintain order. They elect Ralph as their leader and create a crude mechanism for discussion and debate, designating that anyone who holds the conch has the right to be heard. They build shelters and show concern for the youngest among them. They also play make believe and other games, exulting in their freedom from chores and rules.

Golding seems to suggest that the democratic society they create is simply another game. The rules are only as effective as their enthusiasm for the game itself. It is notable that at the beginning of the novel, all the boys assume rescue is imminent, and thus that the rules they're accustomed to following will soon be reimposed. As they come to believe that they will not be returned to civilization anytime soon, the boys abandon their game of democratic society, and their behavior becomes increasingly fearful, savage, superstitious, and violent.

Golding’s question is perhaps not whether humans are inherently good or evil, but rather whether these concepts have any true meaning. While it is tempting to see Ralph and Piggy as ‛good’ and Jack and his hunters as ‛evil,’ the truth is more complex. Without Jack’s hunters, the boys would have suffered hunger and deprivation. Ralph, the believer in rules, lacks authority and the ability to enforce his rules, leading to disaster. Jack’s rage and violence leads to the destruction of the world. Piggy’s knowledge and book learning are proven as to be meaningless as his technology, represented by the fire-starting glasses, when they fall into the hands of boys who do not understand them.

All of these issues are mirrored subtly by the war that frames the story. Although only vaguely described, it is clear that the adults outside the island are engaged in a conflict, inviting comparisons and forcing us to consider whether the difference is merely a matter of scale.

Illusion vs. Reality

The nature of reality is explored in several ways in the novel. On the one hand, appearances seem to doom the boys to certain roles—most notably Piggy. Piggy initially expresses the dim hope that he can escape the abuse and bullying of his past through his alliance with Ralph and his usefulness as a well-read child. However, he quickly falls back into the role of the bullied ‛nerd’ and becomes reliant on Ralph’s protection.

On the other hand, many aspects of the island are not clearly perceived by the boys. Their belief in The Beast stems from their own imaginations and fears, but it quickly takes on what seems to the boys to be a physical form. In this way, The Beast becomes very real to the boys. As the belief in The Beast grows, Jack and his hunters descend into savagery. They paint their faces, changing their appearance in order to project a fearsome and frightening visage that belies their true childish nature.

More subtly, what seemed real in the beginning of the book—Ralph’s authority, the power of the conch, the assumption of rescue—slowly erodes over the course of the story, revealed to be nothing more than the rules of an imaginary game. In the end, Ralph is alone, there is no tribe, the conch is destroyed (and Piggy murdered) in the ultimate refutation of its power, and the boys abandon the signal fires, making no effort to prepare for or attract rescue.

At the terrifying climax, Ralph is hunted through the island as everything burns—and then, in a final twist of reality, this descent into horror is revealed to be unreal. Upon discovering they have in fact been rescued, the surviving boys immediately collapse and burst into tears.

Order vs. Chaos

The civilized and reasonable behavior of the boys at the beginning of the novel is predicated on the expected return of an ultimate authority: adult rescuers. When the boys lose faith in the possibility of rescue, their orderly society collapses. In a similar way, the morality of the adult world is governed by a criminal justice system, armed forces, and spiritual codes. If these controlling factors were to be removed, the novel implies, society would quickly collapse into chaos.

Everything in the story is reduced to its power or lack thereof. Piggy’s glasses can start fires, and thus are coveted and fought over. The conch, which symbolizes order and rules, can challenge raw physical power, and so it is destroyed. Jack’s hunters can feed hungry mouths, and thus they have an outsize influence over the other boys, who quickly do as they are told despite their misgivings. Only the return of adults at the end of the novel changes this equation, bringing a more powerful force to the island and instantly reimposing the old rules.

On a superficial level, the novel tells a story of survival in a realistic style. The process of building shelters, gathering food, and seeking rescue are recorded with a high level of detail. However, Golding develops several symbols throughout the story that slowly take on increasing weight and power in the story.

The Conch comes to represent reason and order. In the beginning of the novel, it has the power to quiet the boys and force them to listen to wisdom. As more boys defect to Jack’s chaotic, fascist tribe, the Conch's color fades. In the end, Piggy—the only boy who still has faith in the Conch—is killed trying to protect it.

The Pig’s Head

The Lord of the Flies, as described by a hallucinating Simon, is a pig’s head on a spike being consumed by flies. The Lord of the Flies is a symbol of the increasing savagery of the boys, on display for all to see.

Ralph, Jack, Piggy, and Simon

Each of the boys represent fundamental natures. Ralph represents order. Piggy represents knowledge. Jack represents violence. Simon represents good, and is in fact the only truly selfless boy on the island, which makes his death at the hands of Ralph and the other supposedly civilized boys shocking.

Piggy’s Glasses

Piggy’s glasses are designed to provide clear vision, but they are transformed into a tool to make fire. The glasses serve as a symbol of control more powerful than the Conch. The Conch is purely symbolic, representing rules and order, while the glasses convey true physical power.

The beast represents the unconscious, ignorant terror of the boys. As Simon thinks, "The beast is the boys." It did not exist on the island before their arrival.

Literary Device: Allegory

Lord of the Flies is written in a straightforward style. Golding eschews complex literary devices and simply tells the story in chronological order. However, the entire novel serves as a complex allegory, in which every major character represents some larger aspect of society and the world. Thus, their behavior is in many ways predetermined. Ralph represents society and order, and so he consistently attempts to organize and hold the boys to standards of behavior. Jack represents savagery and primitive fear, and so he consistently devolves to a primitive state.

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Lord of the Flies

By william golding, lord of the flies essay questions.

In his introduction to William Golding's novel, novelist E.M. Forster suggests that Golding's writing "lays a solid foundation for the horrors to come." Using Forster's quote as a starting point, discuss how the novel foreshadows the murders of Simon and Piggy. Focus on two events or images from the novel's earlier chapters and describe how they anticipate the novel's tragic outcome.

Answer: The weather on the island grows increasingly more hostile and ominous as the novel's plot unfolds, Piggy's name suggests that he will be killed like an animal, and so on.

Many critics have read Lord of the Flies as a political allegory. In particular, they have considered the novel a commentary on the essential opposition between totalitarianism and liberal democracy. Using two or three concrete examples from the novel, show how the two political ideologies are figured in the novel, and then discuss which of the two you think Golding seems to favor.

Answer: The contrast between Ralph's group on the beach and Jack's tribe at Castle Rock represents the opposition between liberal democracy and totalitarianism. Golding presents the former as the superior system, demonstrated by the success of the assembly among Jack's group of boys and the ordered system that prioritizes the ongoing signal fire on the mountain, tactics that ensure the welfare of the entire group. Note, though, what happens in both groups over time.

Names and naming are important in Lord of the Flies. Many characters have names that allude to other works of literature, give insight into their character, or foreshadow key events. Discuss the significance of the names of, for instance, Sam and Eric, Piggy, and Simon. What does the character's name say about him and his significance? Use external sources as necessary.

Answer: Piggy's name, for example, indicates his inferior position within the social hierarchy of the island and foreshadows his eventual death at the hands of Jack's tribe. Simon was the name of Peter in the Bible. Jack might be named after John Marcher in Henry James's story The Beast in the Jungle , and so on.

Two major symbols in the novel are the conch shell and The Lord of the Flies (the pig's head on a stick). Analyze one or both of these symbols in terms of how they are perceived by the boys as well as what they symbolize for the reader.

Answer: The conch shell represents liberal democracy and order, as endorsed by Ralph and Piggy. The Lord of the Flies tends to represent an autocratic or a primitive order. Note the "exchange" of these objects at the novel's conclusion when the conch is smashed in Jack's camp and Ralph uses part of the Lord of the Flies as a weapon.

The children stranded on the island are all boys, and female characters are rarely discussed. How does this matter for the novel?

Answer: Gender difference is not explicitly discussed or represented in the novel, although femininity is symbolically present in the novel's representations of nature. Some of the male characters are "feminized" by the other boys when they are considered un-masculine or vulnerable. In a boys' choir, many boys have high voices that can sing parts normally reserved for females. It is unclear whether Jack's tribe would have become so violent (and nearly naked) if girls of the same age were on the island.

At the end of Chapter Eleven, Roger pushes Jack aside to descend on the bound twins "as one who wielded a nameless authority." Focusing on this quotation, discuss Roger's actions in Chapter Eleven in relation to Jack's power and political system.

Answer: Roger's actions towards the twins are unauthorized by Jack, indicating that Jack's own authority is under threat. Golding hints at a shift in the power system among Jack's tribe, which highlights the inherent flaws in Jack's system of military dictatorship.

Jack gains power over many of the boys by exploiting their fear of the mythical beast. How does Jack manipulate the myth of the beast to legitimize his authority?

Answer: Jack exploits the boys' fear of the beast to usurp leadership from Ralph, who stresses a rational approach to the presumed evil presence on the island. Within Jack's tribe, the beast continues to have a powerful symbolic and political significance among the boys, uniting them and ensuring their loyalty to Jack's leadership. When Jack first attempts to break away from Ralph's tribe, his authority is not recognized, but as the boys' fear of the beast increases, an increasing number defect from Ralph's group to Jack's, where the existence of the beast is not only acknowledged but is a central fact of day-to-day life.

By Chapter Three, the boys are divided into two groups: the older boys and the younger boys or "littluns." What role do the littluns have to play?

Answer: Consider especially the distinction between savagery and civilization.

What happens with the "littluns" registers the increasing brutality on the island. The earliest examples of violence in the novel are directed against the littluns, acts that foreshadow the violent events of later chapters. Moreover, characters who are kind to the littluns tend to remain most closely associated with civilization throughout the novel.

The novel's narrative action draws an increasingly firm line between savagery and civilization, yet the value of each becomes an issue in the conclusion, when Jack's fire saves the boys. Using these terms, what is the novel suggesting about human nature, evil, and human civilization?

Answer: The naval officer is a military figure, which reminds the reader that "civilized" societies also engage in violence and murder. Evil seems to be a force that threatens human nature and human civilization--from within. Still, evil is associated primarily with savagery and the worse part of our natures.

How does the novel reflect the Cold War and the public's concerns about the conflict between democracy and communism? Does the novel take a side? (Remember to cite all of your research sources in your bibliography.)

Answer: The Cold War was primarily between the democratic U.S. and its allies on the one hand, and the communist U.S.S.R. and its allies on the other hand. The initial events of the novel, following a group of boys in the aftermath of a terrible nuclear war, reflect and capitalize on widespread anxiety about the arms race for destructive atomic weapons. Ralph comes to represent the West and its values, while Jack comes to represent the enemy.

Lord of the Flies Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Lord of the Flies is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Where had Simon fainted before?

From the text:

“He's always throwing a faint,”said Merridew. “He did in Gib.; and Addis; and at matins over the precentor.”

Quote Analysis. "There was a throb..."

At this point Ralph is once again challenging Jack's authority, Unfortunately all the cards are stacked against Ralph. A storm is brewing and to deflect the boys' fears, Jack orders them to dance around the fire. This communal spectacle of...

How do the boys respond to Jack's call for Ralph's removal as chief? How does Jack react? Respond with evidence from the text.

There is a lot of immaturity here. The other boys refuse to vote Ralph out of power. Enraged, Jack has a tantrum and runs away from the group, saying that he is leaving and that anyone who likes is welcome to join him.The boys don't like the open...

Study Guide for Lord of the Flies

Lord of the Flies study guide contains a biography of William Golding, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Lord of the Flies
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• Character List

Essays for Lord of the Flies

Lord of the Flies essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Lord of the Flies by William Golding.

• Two Faces of Man
• The Relationship Between Symbolism and Theme in Lord of the Flies
• A Tainted View of Society
• Death and Social Collapse in Lord of the Flies
• Lumination: The Conquest of Mankind's Darkness

Lesson Plan for Lord of the Flies

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to Lord of the Flies
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• Lord of the Flies Bibliography

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Lord of the Flies

William golding.

Ask LitCharts AI: The answer to your questions

Simon is a uniquely wise character, and he seems to understand things the other boys don't. In this prescient moment in Chapter 7, containing allusion and foreshadowing, he predicts Ralph's safe return:

“You’ll get back to where you came from.” Simon nodded as he spoke. […] Ralph was puzzled and searched Simon’s face for a clue. “It’s so big, I mean—” Simon nodded. “All the same. You’ll get back all right. I think so, anyway.” Some of the strain had gone from Ralph’s body. He glanced at the sea and then smiled bitterly at Simon. “Got a ship in your pocket?” Simon grinned and shook his head. Cite this Quote

Ralph becomes angry with Simon for, as Ralph sees it, offering hope without any proof behind it. But Simon's prediction is foreshadowing: not only does Ralph eventually "get back all right," but Simon  does not . By saying "you'll get back" instead of "we'll get back," Simon predicts only Ralph's safe return. Nor does Simon say "you all" or "you and Piggy," since Piggy too dies before he can be rescued.

This is another moment in which Simon seems Christlike. Like Christ (and like powerful figures from other religions), Simon is able to prophesy, even though he will not live to see his prophecy fulfilled. When he hears Simon's prediction, Ralph's bitterness is understandable; but his unwillingness to believe also means that, in this scene, Ralph is not unlike one of Jesus's disciples who doubts or repudiates Jesus during the most difficult moments in the Gospel narratives.

Often, Simon is compared to Jesus Christ or called a "Christ figure." But the book never explicitly says he is like Christ. How do readers understand him as similar to the Christian Savior? This scene, in chapter 8, creates a strong allusion using imagery and metaphor:

He went on among the creepers until he reached the great mat that was woven by the open space and crawled inside. Beyond the screen of leaves the sunlight pelted down and the butterflies danced in the middle their unending dance. He knelt down and the arrow of the sun fell on him. That other time the air had seemed to vibrate with heat; but now it threatened. Soon the sweat was running from his long coarse hair. He shifted restlessly but there was no avoiding the sun. Presently he was thirsty, and then very thirsty. He continued to sit. Cite this Quote

This meditative moment evokes Jesus fasting in the desert for 40 days. Despite his thirst and his discomfort with the sun, Simon does not move. What is he waiting for? This moment of suffering and waiting is something many figures in the Bible undergo, including and especially Jesus. Simon kneels as if in prayer. Even if the novel is not explicitly Christian, Golding seems to use Jesus as a model for Simon's character.

The metaphor "arrow of the sun" suggests indicating Simon is receiving divine guidance or seeking it. The sun often represents a deity, and in this novel the sun and heat are often painful. This is once again true here, where the heat is explicitly described as uncomfortable and also metaphorically called an "arrow." In a Christian understanding, being close to God does not mean one's life will be free of suffering; in fact, quite the opposite often occurs, not only in the story of Jesus's crucifixion, but also with Christian martyrs. Simon's position as a Christlike figure in the book does not only depend on his spiritual awareness and wisdom, but also his suffering, unique exposure to death (when he frees the parachutist's corpse), and eventual "sacrifice," when the boys kill him.

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