Use of Symbols in Lord of the Flies by William Golding Essay

confide in the conch and when the conch is held up, it is a sign of

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.

Lord of the Flies, a suggestive name for the Devil, a devil whose name proposes that he is devoted to decay, destruction, demoralization and panic, exactly what William Golding had in mind when using symbolism in this novel. The Lord of the Flies (1954), is a novel in which interpretating the symbols are a main key to not only understanding, but also enjoying the novel. After tying many of the symbols together, you can figure out more about what the author is trying to depict, the overall scene.

In Lord of the Flies, symbolism is evident in the outward appearance of the boys, as it represents the mental state of them. This is a unique use of symbolism, and this along with it’s great writing, interesting plot, and intriguing characters, makes Lord of the Flies by William Golding a great

Symbols play a prominent role in Lord of the Flies. In the novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding, the author uses many different symbols. Some of which being: Piggy’s glasses, the conch and the scar.

Symbolism is a very important factor in many books. The use of symbolism in William Golding’s novel The Lord of the Flies is the most essential aspect to the function of the story. At first glance you may not think the symbols are very important, but with some in-depth thought you can see how it is necessary to explain the microcosm of an island.

A symbol is something used for or regarded as representing something else; a material object representing something, often something immaterial; emblem, token, or sign. Symbols in novels represent ties in real life. The symbols in Lord of the Flies by William Golding represent the themes and the significance of the objects throughout the book. Some of the symbols were Piggy’s glasses, the conch and the fire. All these symbols represent how much the things helped throughout the novel to rescue the children.

"His head opened and stuff came out and turned red. Piggy's arms and legs twitched a bit like a pig after it has been killed" (217). This is what can happen to someone when all signs of civilization, order and power disappear and have no more meaning to members of a group or society. In the writing of William Golding's Lord of the Flies (1954), the symbol of power and civilization is the conch. Once that is lost, all bets are off. When the novel begins, two boys are talking about what has happened and why they are on this island. While walking on the beach, the main character Ralph then proceeds to find a shell which the two boys call the conch. Blowing on this shell Ralph calls a

Many symbols have been brought to light while reading the book, Lord of the Flies. Symbols usually represent different things in some cases, but in this book they all tie around one thing, the downfall of civilization on an island. There has been symbols such as, the “beastie,” the conch shell and even the beast head, that have all been used to represent one thing.

Many authors use symbolism to signify ideas and give a deeper symbolic meaning to an object. Lord of the Flies by William Golding explores the survival of a group of boys. The boys are stranded on an island due to a plane crash. Their plane was shot down during their escape of World War ll. William Golding demonstrates symbolism throughout the novel by showing how crisis forms throughout society.

People think that it is in human nature to show compassion and concerns for others, but in Lord of the flies, William Golding look at human nature in a different perspective. Throughout the journey of a group of well- behaved school boys getting trapped on a tropical island, the readers explore the darkest side of human heart. The author also let the readers explore the powerful messages and concepts that are hidden under objects and characters. Symbolism is the use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their literal sense. In other words, it is when the author use an object or character to represent another to give it an entirely different meaning that is much deeper and more significant.

William Golding, the author of Lord of the Flies, was born on September 19, 1911. He died on June 19, 1993. In his life, he attended Brasenose College at Oxford University, and in 1935 decided to become an English teacher at Bishop Wordsworth’s School in Salisbury (William Golding - Biographical). After five years of teaching, in 1940, he joined the Navy. With his war experience and background of teaching English to rowdy, young boys, it later inspired him to write his novel, Lord of the Flies (William Golding - Biographical). The novels he writes reflect on his time spent in war. He published Lord of the Flies, his first novel, in 1954, and received a Nobel Prize in Literature (William Golding - Biographical).

The words ‘Lord-of-the-Flies’ are critically important words in this novel since they describe the essence of the book in four words. These words are not only used to describe the pig’s head on a stick and its entrails covered with flies, but also the presumed beast, who is covered with the same black insects. Essentially, Golding portrays the human struggle with evil in the world, or the influence of Satan, corrupting people, who, in turn, destroy society and civilization. The book was initially called ‘A Stranger from within’ before publication, which relates to the evil part of human nature that was a ‘stranger’ to the boys before landing on the island. Lord-of-the-flies could also correlate to the dirty, savage lifestyle of the boys. They are sweaty and they live like pigs, which attract flies by the hundreds. The ‘Lord-of-the-Flies’ can be used to describe Satan, the pig covered with flies, and the filthy lifestyle of the boys.

In William Golding's Lord of the Flies, the boys are stranded on an island have an interaction with many symbols that symbolize themes that change in the story. Through the use of symbols such as the signal fire, the conch, and Ralph’s hair, Golding proves that people allow their capability for evil to control their life when they are freed from civilization.

Symbols have a huge meaning in the world such as survival and books, like in The Lord Of The Flies, written by William Golding. The author of this book shows how symbols can be found in human nature and society as well. Throughout the book, symbols can be seen being used by the author in different ways to help connect the book with the aspects of the outside world.