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Conch In Lord Of The Flies

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William Gerald Golding is an author whose writing has been studied by many people over the last couple of years. His well-known book called Lord of the Flies was written in the year 1954, less than a decade after World War II when the world was in the midst of the Cold War. To fully understand William Golding’s complexity, one must explore his background, especially the events that took place during World War II period. In Lord of the Flies, he evokes the themes of power, civilization, and the nature of evil. Two critics by the names of John Carey and William Boyd give us insights that allow us to have a greater understanding of the author. The influences in the author's life, in most cases, play a significant role in establishing his style of writing. Golding’s life began on …show more content…

Piggy had an idea that every time the tribe had meetings, they should utilize a conch that would specify who would be the one to talk. From here, the conch shows to be a symbol of authority. Whoever holds the conch has the authority to speak and be heard by the group. But the conch does not stay in place throughout the whole novel. “As the story progresses, the influence of the shell degrades at the same rate as the society and the very end, a boulder crushes the conch shell, effectively symbolizing the end of the boys civilized instinct”, an online article states in “What does the conch represent in Lord of the Flies” (Anne Julie). What the quote mentions if that the conch seemed to fail, as well as the power that Hitler had, in which he abused and turned out to be a chaotic situation. 1/21/2013 | Aurora from Tallahassee, FL | 3 Answers | -2 Votes, 1/27/2013 | Donna Ann P., 1/21/2013 | Annejulie B., and 2/16/2013 | Nancy L. "What Does the Conch Represent in Lord of the Flies? - Wyzant Answers." Wyzant Tutoring. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec.

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