The Conch Shell
Ralph and Piggy discover a conch shell on the beach and use it to summon the boys together. The shell becomes a powerful symbol of civilization and order because it effectively governs the boys’ meetings, for the boy who holds the shell holds the right to speak. It is a vessel of political power among the boys. However, as the island civilization erodes and the boys become more savage, the conch shell loses its power and influence among them.
Ralph and Piggy discover a conch shell on the beach and use it to summon the boys together. The shell becomes a powerful symbol of civilization and order because it effectively governs the boys’ meetings, for the boy who holds the shell holds the right to speak. It is a vessel of political power among the boys. However, as the island civilization erodes and the boys become more savage, the conch shell loses its power and influence among them.
The Lord of the Flies
The Lord of the Flies is the bloody sow’s head which is used as an offering to the beast. In this way, it becomes both a symbol of the power of evil and a kind of Satan figure which evokes the beast within each human being.
The Lord of the Flies is the bloody sow’s head which is used as an offering to the beast. In this way, it becomes both a symbol of the power of evil and a kind of Satan figure which evokes the beast within each human being.
The Beast
The Beast in the novel is not real; it is just an imaginary being that frightens all the boys. The boys’ behavior is what brings the beast into existence: the more savagely the boys act, the more real the beast seems to become. It stands for the instinct of savagery that exists within everyone. Only Simon is able to realize that the boys fear the beast because it exists within each of them.
The Beast in the novel is not real; it is just an imaginary being that frightens all the boys. The boys’ behavior is what brings the beast into existence: the more savagely the boys act, the more real the beast seems to become. It stands for the instinct of savagery that exists within everyone. Only Simon is able to realize that the boys fear the beast because it exists within each of them.
The Fire
The boys build a signal fire to notice any passing ship that they are trapped in an island. As a result, the signal fire becomes a means of connection to civilization. It functions as a measurement of hope and strength of the boys. Ironically, at the end of the novel, the fire finally summons a ship to the island, but not the same signal fire; it is the fire of evil, the forest fire Jack’s tribe starts to kill Ralph.
Piggy’s Glasses
Piggy is the most rational boy in the group, and his glasses symbolizes the power of science in society because the boys use the lenses to focus the sunlight and start a fire. His glasses give everyone some hope to get rescued by a ship or a plane. When the Jack's group steals them from Piggy, it abuses both science and intelligence in its own civilization.
1 comment:
Yes, there were many symbolisms in The Lord of the Flies and you've explained each one of them very well. I always wondered what is the symbolism of the beast and the Lord of the Flies and you've kind of answered my queries. But I still wonder what the significance of the Lord of the Flies is. The title of the book is The Lord of the Flies, and in the book, the Lord of the Flies is merely a dead swine's head that is used as an offering to the beast. You mentioned that it is the symbol of evilness, but I wonder why that symbol is also used as a title. Usually, the title of the book portrays the theme, but I cannot clearly see the connection. I think the theme was about anarchy and savagery. I do somewhat get the symbolism in the Lord of the Flies, but I still don't clearly get the significance and the role of it in the story... :(
Post a Comment