Symbolism in Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Symbols are often used in literature to drive plot, give clues to events in the story, and develop key characters. They have more than one meaning, and in the novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding there are three key symbols used: the conch, Piggy’s eyeglasses and the impaled pigs head. These three symbols will be discussed by using specific references to the text as well as examining how they negatively impact the characters in the story.

He also tells Ralph how to use the conch from when he saw it before. Piggy initially discovers the conch. The conch was at the bottom of the lagoon. Piggy suggests that Ralph uses it to call the boys. Throughout the novel piggy was very smart but was overlooked. Throughout the novel he represented a meritocracy.

It connects back to piggy because he also cared dearly for the conch. Throughout the whole book until his death, he always wanted it to be used because he thought it was the proper way of handling things. He wanted the boys to have power when they held the conch.

In William Golding’s “Lord Of The Flies” Novel, symbolism is a very important element of the book, Many symbols show how the boys on the island are slowly becoming savage and losing their civility.

Jack’s tribe, instead of helping Ralph, they burn down the whole island in a forest fire just to kill one person. “We saw your smoke. What have you been doing? Having a war or something?”. This quote shows how a fire can be wrongly used and possibly start a war. In the same way a boy died earlier by the first campfire they built and lit with piggy’s specs.

The conch, throughout the whole story, is used to achieve order, and a symbol of authority for whom ever has possession of it, "I'll give the conch to the next person to speak. He can hold it when he's speaking" "And he won't be interrupted" (33). While they were all getting along and all working toward one thing, the conch served it's purpose. It was used to call meetings and to bring silence during

In the beginning of the Lord of the Flies, the fire is used as a form of hope for rescue and survival. When the boys first arrive on the island, Ralph decides that rescue should be their main focus. The boys build a signal fire to attract any passing ships. He puts Jack and his hunters in charge of keeping the fire going. One day the hunters let the fire burn out. When a ship passes without seeing the fire, Ralph panics because they have lost a chance at being rescued. Golding describes the aftermath of the ship passing, “The fire was out, smokeless and dead; the watchers were gone. A pile of unused fuel lay ready” (Golding 68). When this incident occurs, Ralph

The conch is well respected and gives meanings of authority, the boys decide that no one can speak unless he holds the conch, representing order from the old schoolyard society of strict limitations. Quote: "Ralph felt the conch lifted from his lap. Then Piggy was standing cradling the great cream shell and the shouting died down." In this quote, the conch is lifted as though it was as powerful as a crown, reminding the distracted group of rules; that

Everyone has a part of them that keeps them from doing the bad things that they are capable of. Sometimes it lies within them, where they somewhat have control, sometimes it lies somewhere that can not be controlled, it could be in friends or people around you. When they do not have control, For the boys in Lord Of The Flies, by William Golding, Piggy is the slightest chance of hope that keeps the group from letting their id completely take over their sanity, therefore turning into complete and utter savages. In the beginning of the book, Piggy explains to Ralph the significance of the conch, and why it can help in their future endeavors, without Piggy's knowledge, Ralph would not have paid the conch any attention.

In the book, Piggy and Ralph decide to use the conch to gather the rest of the abandoned boys and use it as a horn to alert their attention. The conch has the ability to catch attention of young and hyperactive children that may not be able to put great

When the boys are arguing about what to do and then piggy declared he has the conch and control. “‘I got the conch,’ said Piggy bleakly. He turned to Ralph. ‘I got the conch, ain’t I Ralph?’”(Golding 44). This shows the sovereign power of the conch over the children.

Firstly, Piggy is always seen admiring the conch shell whether it was chapter one, when he found it, or chapter 11, when he proudly to held the conch. Ralph calls an assembly and gives the conch to Piggy so that he can say what he wants to tell the tribe. The moment Piggy gets the conch “he [holds] the shining thing carefully and [winks] back at Ralph” (Golding 188). This tells the readers that Piggy is very careful about holding the conch, showing his admiration and respect towards it. He later winks at Ralph to portay the message that he fully believes in the authority of the conch, thus, will protect it. After the assembly, Ralph gives the conch to Piggy when he is getting ready to go and meet the hunters to retreve his glasses. It was stated

The symbolic meaning of fire is demonstrated throughout the book in many different fashions but mainly it is portrayed as a symbol of life and social order. If

Second, the conch is also a symbol of value. When Ralph first finds the conch, Piggy tells him that it is valuable. This emphasis on value is not natural in uncivilized creatures. The idea of value is created by society. The conch represents the value placed on things that are rare hard to obtain in our society, much like a fancy car or an old work of art. With an emphasis on value comes feelings of jealousy and envy. This is only natural and can be seen when Jack decides that the conch should only be used by those he sees as worthy. For good or bad, the conch becomes the only tie to the concept of matieral value that they boys have left.

Piggy still serves an important role in trying to balance society. The conch is just a shell, but it helps to keep the boy’s society functioning somewhat properly. It serves as a totem of power; whoever has gets the right to speak and it calls all the boys together for an assembly when it is sounded. On the other hand, there are several aspects of their society that cause dysfunction. For example, Jack creates a violent atmosphere on the island; he conducts several criminal acts that disrupt the sanctity of their island.