Symbolism in Lord of the Flies

By: Lesli Odom ENGL 4950-602

Goldings Use of Symbolism

Symbolism is the frequent use of words, places, characters, or objects that mean something beyond what they are on a literal level (Wheeler). William Golding uses so much symbolism in Lord of the Flies that many critics agree that it is an allegory- a writing that has a double meaning (Wheeler).

Title- Lord of the Flies

Before even opening the novel, the readers of Goldings work are face to face with a symbolthe title. Lord of the Flies is a name applied to the Biblical demon Beelzebub thus symbolizing evil (Rosenfield, p.174).

Lord of the Flies

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In the novel, the Lord of the Flies is the name is given to the pigs head that the hunters put on a stick sharpened at both ends. This head is for the beast. Its a gift (Golding, 140).

Conch Shell

The conch shell, which is For the children in used to call the children the story, the conch to assemblies, serves as shell is an important a symbol of order and object. Rosenfield authority (Cox, 170). points out that the

conch must be held by a child before that child can speak at councils (173).
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Conch Shell (cont.)

C.B. Cox points out that the conch is more than just a symbol of order (170). From the beginning of the novel, Golding describes the conch with much precision and detail. When the conch is broken, the reader feels that sadness which comes when any object of exquisite beauty is broken. The symbolic meaning, that this is the end of the beauty of justice and order on the island (Cox 170-71).

Signal Fire

At their second council meeting, Ralph tells the rest of the boys, We can help them to find usWe must make a fire (Golding, 37). The boys agree because they want to be rescued.
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Signal Fire (cont.)

Paulette Michel-Michot states: The fire which must be kept burning is the symbol of their hope for rescue, of their attachment to civilization, for it will reveal their presence on the island to the outside world (Michel-Michot, pg. 176).

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Parachutist

Cox describes the dead parachutist as a symbol of adult evil (171). When the boys kill Simon as he attempts to tell them the truth about the beast, they show the adult evil as part of themselves (Cox, 171). Frank Kermode calls the dead parachutist an ugly emblem of war and decay that broods over the paradise and provide the only objective equivalent for the beasts the boys imagine. (Kermode, 226).

Characters

Golding also uses symbolism in the various characters of the story. According to MichelMichot, he makes them work out archetypal pattern of human society or of different conflicting tendencies within the individual (176). We can find symbolic meaning in the four main characters of Lord of the Flies: Ralph, Jack, Piggy, and Simon.

Ralph

Ralph and Jack are two polarizing figures in the novel (Michel-Michot). Ralph is a symbol of democracy because he sought ways to maintain parliamentary procedures, to respect freedom of speech, to rule through persuasion, with the consent of the governed (Spitz, 173).

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Jack

Spitz calls Jack authorian man and compares him to the dictators Hitler and Mussolini (173). Spitz also discusses Jacks appearance calling him a Satanic figure with his red hair and black cape (173).

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Piggy

David Spitz compares Piggy to Socrates, the voice of reason (173). One example of his sense of reason is shown when the boys first fire gets out of control. Piggy tells the others, The first thing we ought to have made was shelters on the beach How can you expect to be rescued if you dont put first things first and act proper (Golding, 44). When Piggy is killed, with his death all sense, all reason is gone; the ultimate madness sets in (Spitz, 173).

Simon

In Lord of the Flies, Simon signifies the Christ-figure, the voice of revelation (Spitz, 172). In an interview with James Keating, William Golding states: Simon is a saint (Keating, 219).

Examples of Simon as Christ-like

There are several events involving Simon that portray him as a Christ-like or Biblical figure: The first event occurs when Simon feeds the littluns described in the following passage: Then, amid the roar of bees in the afternoon sunlight, Simon found for them the fruit they could not reach, pulled off the choicest from up in the foliage, passed them back down to endless outstretched hands (Golding, 55).

Simon (cont.)

This passage unmistakably evokes the Biblical accounts of Christ amid the breadhungry masses (Spangler, 233). Like Jesus, Simon provides his followers, in his case the littluns, with plenty of food to satisfy their hunger.

Simon (cont.)

When he discovers that the beast is the dead parachutist, like Moses, then, he comes down from the mountain bearing the truth (Spitz, 172). Also, like Moses, he is not listened to. Secondly, his death symbolizes the Crucifixion of Jesus. Like Jesus, Simon was trying to tell the others the truth. For this, he was slain.

A Walk Through William Goldings Lord of the Flies

Goldings Inspiration

Bruce Lambert states: Sir William recalled that as a teacher he once allowed a class of boys complete freedom in a debate, but he had to intervene as mayhem broke out. That incident and his own war experience inspired Lord of the Flies (Lambert, 317).

Setting

A group of English boys are deserted on an island when their plane is attacked during the World War II.

Setting (cont.)

The island shore was fledged with palm trees. Behind the palm trees was the darkness of the forest and the space where their plane crashed. About a mile from the shore, the white surf flinked on a coral reef, and beyond that the open sea was dark blue. Between the ocean and the palm trees was the beach apparently endless. (Golding, 8)

Symbols

Goldings novel is full of symbolism, or objects that mean something beyond what they are on a literal level (Wheeler). Some of the symbols Golding uses in his novel include: The title, the conch shell, the signal fire, the parachutist, and the main characters in the novel.

Symbols (cont.)

The title Lord of the Flies translates to mean Beelzebubthe name given to the devil. The parachutist arrives on the island after the boys ask for a sign from the adult world. Therefore, the parachutist symbolizes adult evil and is a reminder of war.

Symbols (cont.)

The purpose of the signal fire is to help the children get rescued. Therefore, the fire symbolizes their hope to be rescued. The conch shell symbolizes order and authority. When the conch is blown in the novel, all the boys listen.

Characters

Goldings four main characters are Ralph, Piggy, Jack, and Simon. Each of these characters plays an important role in the novel.

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Ralph

Ralph is introduced to us first as the fairhaired boy (Golding, 5). As the story progresses, Ralph emerges as a leader. It is he who find that conch and arranges that when there is a meeting he who hold the conch shall speak (Forester, 228).

Piggy

Piggy is introduced to the reader as being short, fat, and wearing thick spectacles (Golding, 5). Piggys glasses play an important role in the novelthey are used to start the fire. As the novel progresses, we learn that Piggy is the brains of the party (Forester, 228). When Piggy and Ralph found the conch, it was Piggy that said, We can use this to call the others. Have a meeting (Golding, 15). This way of thinking exemplifies Piggys intelligence.

Jack

Jack is introduced as being tall, thin, and bony (Golding 17). He has red hair, and is wearing a black hat and cloak. His face was crumpled and freckled, and ugly without silliness (Golding, 17). When all the boys gather to have a meeting and are discussing the idea of a chief, Jack states with arrogance, I ought to be chiefbecause Im chapter chorister and head boy (Golding, 20).

Simon

Simon is introduced to the reader as the choir boy who had fainted (Golding, 20). Then, Golding describes him as a skinny, vivid little boy, withstraight hair that hung down, black and coarse (Golding, 22). In the novel, Simon plays the role of the Christlike figure. In an interview, Golding himself calls Simon a saint (Kermode, 219).

Works Cited

Cox, C.B. A review of Lord of the Flies. Critical Quarterly 2.2 (Summer 1960): 112-17. Contemporary Literary Criticism. Ed. Roger Matuz. Vol. 58. Detroit: Gale, 1990. 170-72. Flickr. Yahoo! Inc. 16 July 2008. http://www.flickr.com/ Forester, E. M. Introduction. Lord of the Flies: Casebook Edition. Ed. James R. Baker & Arthur P. Ziegler, Jr. New York: Penguin Group, 1988. Golding, William. Lord of the Flies: Casebook Edition. New York : Penguin Group, 1988. Kermode, Frank. The Meaning of It All. Lord of the Flies: Casebook Edition. Ed. James R. Baker & Arthur P. Ziegler, Jr. New York: Penguin Group, 1988. Lambert, Bruce. Obituary. New York Times (June 20, 1993): p.38. Contemporary Literary Criticism. Ed. James P. Draper. Vol. 81. Detroit: Gale, 1994. 316-17. .

Works Cited (cont.)

Michel-Michot, Paulette. The Myth of Innocence. Revue des langues vivantes 28.4 (1962): 510-20. Contemporary Literary Criticism. Ed. Roger Matuz. Vol. 58. Detroit: Gale, 1990. 175-77 Rosenfield, Claire. Men of Smaller Growth: A Psychological Analysis of William Goldings Lord of the Flies. Literature and Psychology 11.4 (Fall 1961): 93-101. Contemporary Literary Criticism. Ed. Roger Matuz. Vol. 58. Detroit: Gale, 1990. 172-75. Spangler, Donald R. Simon. Lord of the Flies: Casebook Edition. Ed. James R. Baker & Arthur P. Ziegler, Jr. New York: Penguin Group, 1988. Spitz, David. Power And Authority: An Interpretation of Goldings Lord of the Flies. The Antioch Review 30.1 (Spring 1970): 21-33. Contemporary Literary Criticism. Ed. Sharon R. Gunton. Vol. 17. Detroit: Gale, 1981. 172-73. Wheeler, Dr. Kip. "Literary Vocabulary." Dr. Wheeler's Hompage . 06 June 2008. Carson-Newman College. 12 July 2008 <http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/lit_terms.html>.