Analyze the use of symbolism in William Golding's "Lord of the Flies
Analyze the use of symbolism in William Golding's Lord of the Flies is a novel that uses symbolism to convey its themes and messages.
Throughout the novel, various symbols are used to represent different aspects
of human nature, society, and civilization. In this essay, we will analyze the
use of symbolism in "Lord of the Flies" and how it contributes to the
overall meaning of the novel.
The first symbol that we encounter
in the novel is the conch shell. The conch shell is found by Ralph and Piggy,
and it quickly becomes a symbol of order and civilization on the island. It is
used to call the boys together and to establish rules and procedures for their
meetings. The conch shell represents the boys' desire for order and their need
for a civilized society. However, as the novel progresses, the conch shell
loses its power and influence, and it is eventually destroyed. This destruction
represents the breakdown of order and the descent into savagery on the island.
The second symbol that we encounter
is the signal fire. The signal fire is started by the boys in an attempt to
attract the attention of passing ships and to signal for help. The fire
represents the boys' hope for rescue and their desire to return to
civilization. However, as the novel progresses, the boys become more interested
in hunting and in their own survival, and they neglect the fire. Eventually,
the fire goes out, and a passing ship fails to rescue them. The failure of the
signal fire represents the boys' loss of hope and their abandonment of the idea
of returning to civilization.
The third symbol that we encounter
is the beast. The boys are initially afraid of the beast, and they believe that
it is a physical creature that is hunting them. However, as the novel
progresses, it becomes clear that the beast is a symbol of the boys' own fears
and insecurities. The beast represents the darkness that is within each of us
and the potential for evil that exists in all human beings. The boys' fear of
the beast ultimately leads to their descent into savagery and their loss of
humanity. Analyze the use of symbolism in William Golding's Lord of the Flies.
The fourth symbol that we encounter
is the Lord of the Flies. The Lord of the Flies is a pig's head that has been
impaled on a stake. It represents the boys' descent into savagery and their
loss of morality and humanity. The head speaks to Simon in a hallucination and
tells him that the beast is within each of them. The Lord of the Flies
represents the evil that is within all human beings and the potential for that
evil to take over and dominate our lives.
Analyze the use of symbolism in William Golding's Lord of the Flies:-The fifth symbol that we encounter
is the sow's head. The sow's head is a gift from the hunters to the beast, and
it represents their sacrifice to the evil that they believe is hunting them.
The head is used in a ritualistic manner, and the hunters chant and dance
around it. The sow's head represents the boys' complete loss of humanity and
their descent into savagery.
The final symbol that we encounter
is the naval officer. The naval officer represents civilization and the outside
world. He appears at the end of the novel, just as the boys have completely
descended into savagery and are on the verge of killing each other. The naval
officer's appearance represents the boys' return to civilization and the hope
for a return to order and morality.
In conclusion, "Lord of the
Flies" uses symbolism to convey its themes and messages. The conch shell
represents order and civilization, the signal fire represents hope and the
desire for rescue, the beast represents the potential for evil within all human
beings, the Lord of the Flies represents the domination of that evil, the sow's
head represents the boys' complete loss of humanity, and the naval officer
represents the hope for a return to civilization. These symbols work together
William Golding's Lord of the Flies Summary
"Lord of the Flies" is a novel by William Golding,
published in 1954. The story takes place during a fictional war and follows a
group of British schoolboys who are stranded on an uninhabited island after
their plane crashes.
Analyze the use of symbolism in William Golding's Lord of the Flies:-The boys, ranging in age from six to twelve, initially
attempt to establish some order and create a society by electing Ralph as their
leader and using a conch shell to call meetings. However, tensions quickly
arise between Ralph and Jack, the leader of the hunters, as they have different
priorities: Ralph wants to maintain order and work towards being rescued, while
Jack is more interested in hunting and establishing his own power.
As time passes, the boys become increasingly savage, and
their society begins to break down. They start to become obsessed with hunting
and violence, and the lines between right and wrong become blurred. Simon, a
boy who is more in tune with nature, begins to have visions of a terrifying
beast that the boys believe is on the island.
Eventually, Simon discovers that the beast is not a physical
creature, but rather a manifestation of the boys' own fears and insecurities.
However, when he tries to share this knowledge with the others, he is mistaken
for the beast and brutally killed by the boys in a frenzied attack.
Meanwhile, the boys' attempts to be rescued fail, and they
are left stranded on the island indefinitely. Ralph and Piggy attempt to reason
with the other boys and maintain some semblance of order, but their efforts are
ultimately futile. Jack and his followers become more violent and tyrannical,
and they even steal Piggy's glasses to start fires for their own purposes.
The novel climaxes with a confrontation between Ralph and
Jack, with the other boys taking sides. The boys ultimately descend into
complete savagery, and Ralph is left alone and hunted by the others. Just as he
is about to be killed, a naval officer arrives on the island and rescues the
boys.
Analyze the use of symbolism in William Golding's Lord of the Flies:-The novel ends with the boys being taken away from the
island, with Ralph realizing the true nature of human beings and the fragility
of civilization. The story serves as a cautionary tale about the potential for
savagery and violence within all of us, and the importance of maintaining order
and morality in society.
William Golding's Lord of the Flies FAQ.
Q. What inspired William Golding to write "Lord of the
Flies"?
Ans. William Golding was inspired to write "Lord of the
Flies" by his experiences serving in the Royal Navy during World War II.
He witnessed the brutality and savagery of war firsthand and was disturbed by
what he saw. He believed that the same tendencies towards violence and cruelty
existed in all humans, and he wanted to explore this idea in his novel.
Q.What is the significance of the conch shell in "Lord of
the Flies"?
Ans. The conch shell represents civilization and order in the
novel. It is used to call meetings and establish rules, and whoever holds it
has the right to speak. As the boys become more savage, the conch loses its
power and is eventually destroyed, symbolizing the complete breakdown of their
society.
Q.Who is the "Lord of the Flies"?
Ans. The "Lord of the Flies" is a pig's head on a
stick that is left as an offering to the supposed beast on the island. It is
also a representation of the evil that exists within the boys themselves. The
title of the novel is a reference to this symbol of evil.
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