The Symbol Of Fire In Lord Of The Flies By William Golding

The fire is the most important symbol in Lord of the Flies because it helps readers understand the plot and the theme that destruction can be found in hope. Golding stresses the importance of the fire as Ralph repeatedly mentions how, “The fire is the most important thing on the island”(80). This symbol helps build up the plot because it is mentioned almost entirely throughout the whole entire novel. For example, the exposition is when Ralph first points out that the boys will be able to get rescued if they make a signal fire on top of the mountain. The rising action is when jobs were assigned and Jack and his hunters were in charge of keeping the fire going but failed to do so. The climax is when Jack and his tribe “stole” the fire. The falling action is when Jack and his tribe set the jungle on fire as a quicker and efficient way to find Ralph. Lastly, the resolution is when the boys ironically get rescued by a naval officer because of the fire they lit. Near the end of chapter five, “Beast from Water,” Piggy exclaims “what are we? Humans? Or animals? Or savages?...Going off hunting pigs-letting fires out...”(91). This correlates to the

Golding’s inclusion of fire/smoke at key moments in the novel helps develop it as a symbol to reinforce the idea that savagery subdues civilization. We see these savage acts by Jack and his hunters in chapter ten. While Jack is sitting with his tribe somewhere on the island far from Ralph and his tribe, they realize that they have nothing to light the fire with. Before this, Jack and his hunters had no interest in lighting and watching the fire. This all changed now that they have more meat and are becoming pure savages together. They decided that attacking Ralph and his tribe will get them what they want. “He was a chief now in truth; and he made stabbing motions with his spear. From his left hand dangled Piggy’s broken glasses” (186). Jack and his hunters’ decisions demonstrate that savagery can make people do horrible things.

Fire is a symbol that cannot be described in one word. Fire represents destruction, death, hostility, unpredictability, and the potential for limitless violence. Fire, however, also has a good side to it. Fire can be health, hospitality, control, food, shelter, light, and strength. With these characteristics in mind, fire has a number of different connotations. Many of these connotations can be found in one book. Fire, in William Golding’s book, Lord of the Flies, is a complex symbol, representing anarchy and the darkness inside of us, civilization and the light in all of us, and hope, the constant motivator for our survival.

Fire is a primitive technology that throughout its long connection with humanity has come to represent both hope and destruction. Lord of the Flies is a book that follows a group of civilized English schoolboys who experience these two extremes as they struggle to survive on an uninhabited island, eventually descending into savagery. The author, William Golding served as a naval officer in World War 2, no doubt creating the pessimistic view of mankind expressed Lord of the Flies.

Lord of the Flies by William Golding acquires an elaborate way to develop deeper meanings of each symbols especially fire and Piggy’s glasses.

When the boys first set up the fire, they think that it will just be used for a smoke signal. Ralph, the leader of the group, has a very close connection with the fire. It gives him hope that they will someday

     Lord of the flies is a thought-provoking novel authored by William Golding. This novel uses symbolism throughout its entirety to help portray importance and teach lessons. The book describes in detail the horrific exploits of a band of young children who make a striking transition from civilized to barbaric. Lord of the Flies commands a pessimistic outlook that seems to show that man is inherently tied to society, and without it, we would likely return to savagery. Golding does not come right out and show this however he uses symbolism to allow this idea to show. There are many different examples of symbolism in the Novel included are Piggy’s Glasses, the beast

In the book Lord of the Flies by William Golding, The Fire symbolizes childish shame. THe fire was supposed to be controlled and cause smoke so they could be rescued but because of the childishness of Jack and Ralph they ignored piggy and did not take the necessary precautions to protect themselves and others from the fire. Because they did not take the correct precautions they started a wildfire and one of the little ones, the one with the mulberry colored birthmark, was lost in the fire. Ralph feeling ashamed for not being able to take better care of the boy says in a tone that betrays doubt “ perhaps he went to the, the-” Because of his carelessness and lack of leadership Ralph feels the loss of the child's life strongly and for the rest

The Beast: It represents the evil within all human beings. The boys were all afraid of “the beast”, unaware that it existed within them all. Simon was the only one who figured it out, and when he was going to inform the others, he was tragically killed in the process. The beast became more and more existent to the boys the more savage and violent their behavior got.

In the novel “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding demonstrate while the boys are on the island the conch, fire, and the beast are shown in many significant ways which help develop their newly society. The book starts out as a plane crash on the island which a few people had survived. Throughout the story they all try to be rescued by using fire on top of the mountain so that boats passing by can see that there's people on the island in the middle of nowhere that need help.

In Lord of the Flies by William Golding, a group of adolescent boys are stranded on an island after a plane crash. There are no adults on the island, and the boys must fend for themselves. An older boy Ralph is elected ‘chief’, and they try to survive on their new home. In lord of the flies fire is a form of hope for the boys cast away on the island. It brings them together in some ways and keeps their spirits up. A couple of ways that fire hope are: the signal fire, which gives them faith in being rescued, and having fire to cook with, which means that they can survive with the food that they have.

Fire in the book represents hope of rescue, but also as a symbol of hatred. The fire represents the hope of being rescued, which gives of smoke. The smoke can signal to a by-passer that something is going on or somebody needs help. Getting the fire started is not easy, but with the boys using Piggy’s glasses, the fire can ignite. With the fire being tough to ignite, the boys start to get frustrated and angry at one another.

“ ‘…We must make smoke on top of the mountain, we must make a fire.’ ‘A fire! Make a fire!’” (Golding, 37) Fire is used to symbolize numerous notions throughout the novel, The Lord of the Flies by William Golding. Fire is not just another object in the book, it creates a larger concept, to give the audience a deeper understanding of the novel. The Fire is used to represent, rescue, Ralph’s superiority and destruction. Home is where you are safe and comfortable, the common goal at the beginning of the novel is rescue, and the only way to get rescued is to light a fire.

Fire, in today’s society, is used for several different reasons including warmth, cooking, and destruction while prescription glasses have mainly one purpose, to help aid in eyesight. But for Piggy, the most rational of the group, and Ralph, the leader of all the kids, fire and a pair of bifocals are solely used for survival. Jack on the other hand, who is the leader of the savages, uses fire to harm and control others around him. Lord of the Flies by William Golding acquires an elaborate way to develop deeper meanings of each of the symbols especially fire and Piggy’s glasses.

In Chapter 4 of William Golding's Lord of the Flies, fire may be the boys' best escape route and only hope for survival, but, for the time being, Jack and his hunters must do what is necessary to provide food to allow possible survival. Introduced in chapter two, the element of fire becomes prominent, and, although unaware at the time, the boys would later realize that fire may be their last glowing bit of light on an island shrouded with smoke. Ralph insisted that the boys keep the fire running at all hours of the day, hoping that a rescue boat or helicopter might appear to set the boys free and save them from this hellish nightmare of a life. "There's another thing. We can help them to find us.