...Levi Wenzel 1/20/2014 Mr. Jackson Period 2 Lord of the Flies Symbolism Symbolism is an object, animal, idea, or a person that stands for itself and something beyond itself. Symbolism is used many times in Lord of the Flies by William Golding. The Conch is one example of this symbolism. Another example is the fire and Piggy’s glasses. The Beast is a great example of symbolism. The Conch is used to summon the boys after the crash and later used to call assemblies or meetings. The shell effectively governs the boys’ meetings, for the boy who holds the shell holds the right to speak. In this regard, the shell is more than a symbol: it is a vessel of political legitimacy and democratic power. “Which is better--to have laws and agree, or to hunt and kill?” This quotation states what the conch originally stood for. The conch shell becomes a powerful symbol of civilization and order in the novel. As the civilization erodes and the boys descend into savagery, the conch shell loses its power. The boulder that Roger uses to kill Piggy also destroys the conch shell, signifying the demise of the civilized instinct among the boys on the island. One of Ralph’s original ideas to create a signal fire to catch the attention of passing ships. The only way fire can be started is by using Piggy’s glasses. Piggy is the most intelligent, rational boy in the group: his glasses represent the power of science in society. This is clear from the start of the novel; when the boys use the lenses...
Words: 489 - Pages: 2
...Symbolism in the Lord of the Flies In everyday life, different objects, places, and people symbolize various meanings. In the major motion picture and best selling novel, The Hunger Games, written by Suzanne Collins, the main character, Katniss Everdeen wears a mockingjay pin as a representation of bravery and courage. The mockingjay is an example of a symbol, which according to Random House Webster’s college dictionary is “something used for or regarded as something else.” William Golding’s novel, Lord of the Flies, tells a story about a group of stranded boys on an island and the use of many symbolic items that affect their stay and character. Golding’s use and representation of the conch shell, Piggy’s glasses, and the Beast/Lord of Flies...
Words: 1045 - Pages: 5
...To start off, the use of symbolism to develop the civilization in the Lord of the Flies is delineated through the fire. The fire that is made by the boys is integrated to symbolize hope when the fire was lit. For instance, when the boys finally get the fire lit, “[they] were dancing […] to the yellow flames that poured upwards […]” (Golding 41). Once they got the fire going, the boys on the island were so happy that they “were dancing” because the fire produces smoke, which is a potential rescue signal. The group had been skeptical about the possibility of getting rescued, but as soon as the fire was lit, the boys experienced a sudden rush of hope and joy. It can be concluded that the fire represents hope because of how the fire brings hope...
Words: 407 - Pages: 2
...In William Golding’s The Lord of the Flies, a plane crash strands schoolboys on an island—without supervision or leadership, left only with a memory of civilization. Quickly, many of them had forgotten their connections to civilization and had become savage: “The world, that understandable and lawful world, was slipping away" (Golding 91). Ralph is realizing that, despite his efforts, the boys are slipping into a ferocious state of mind and are becoming wild. Ralph recognizes their chances of survival are tied to their civility and that the boys’ humanity is swiftly disappearing with every new act of savagery. My symbol represents the boys’ rapid descent into ferocity. As shown by the breaking of the symbol’s barrier, if under the right (or...
Words: 293 - Pages: 2
...Leadership and Knowledge Using symbolism, Golding enhances the meaning of the book itself and objects in the book. Many objects or event in the book have a meaning behind them that help to give the book more definition and expand Golding’s intentions. Some objects used in the book to symbolize something more meaningful could be Piggy’s glasses and the conch shell. In the book, Golding has Piggy’s glasses and the conch shell’s symbolism pop up many times. Throughout the book Golding gives certain objects a meaning behind them to make those objects symbolize important things that enhance the meaning of the book. One of the many symbols in the book is Piggy’s glasses. Piggy’s glasses are brought up in the beginning of the book and the symbol...
Words: 610 - Pages: 3
...leaves the group with many other boys soon to follow the boys left with Ralph and Piggy feel as though their hope has diminished to almost nothing. Now that Jack and the other boys are in the jungle and the beast is allegedly up the mountain the island suddenly seems much smaller. The area in which the signal fire was is becoming Jack’s territory and the boys now feel as though their chance of rescue is much slimmer. Sources: http://www.directessays.com/viewpaper/53514.html http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/flies/themes.html http://www.brighthubeducation.com/homework-help-literature/34881-lord-of-the-flies-symbolism/ http://www.novelguide.com/lord-of-the-flies/metaphor-analysis http://bookbuilder.cast.org/view_print.php?book=58094 http://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-does-fire-represent-79523 http://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-significant-importance-fire-what-does-174437 http://www.literature-study-online.com/essays/golding-lord-of-the-flies.html ...
Words: 700 - Pages: 3
...Symbolism in Lord of the Flies Symbolism is all around us, even if we don't know about it. Think about how many times you have used the heart emoji or the thumbs down emoji while texting. These two examples stand for something beyond their appearance. The heart emoji stands for love, while the thumbs down emoji is associated with disapproval and dislike. The same way we use those symbols in our everyday lives, Golding uses them in his novel, Lord Of The Flies, to show the transition of the characters from their civilized background, to the rise of destruction, and their descent into savagery. These changes are made evident by symbols, such as the fire going out, the beast and lord of the flies. These three symbols contribute to the novel by...
Words: 803 - Pages: 4
...The theme that all humans are born savages and through society are taught to be sociable, but with the loss of civilization, slowly revert back to their savage ways is used in William Golding’s Lord of the Flies to describe the primitive nature of man. Golding uses many symbols to further explain this theme including the conch, Piggy, and the Beast. The conch symbolizes the order that can be found on the Island when the boys first arrive. Golding explains the conch bring comfort to the littluns and gives them “reassurance of something purposeful being done.” In addition to the conch comforting the littluns, it also keeps the older boys sane. Ralph is found in chapter 10, “cradling the conch” to keep himself from panicking too much. Further,...
Words: 289 - Pages: 2
...In the book, The Lord of the Flies by William Golding, the fire represents civilization. By doing this, the fire represents hope. The fire also gives responsibility to the characters. In the book, the fireis a way of treason. The fire represents civilization in many ways, and shows the difference in character when there is civilization, and when primitiveness takes over. The fire represents hope. “The flame, nearly invisible at first in that bright sunlight, enveloped a small twig, grew, was enriched with color and reached up to a branch that exploded with a sharp crack.” (Golding 41) This is when the boys first make the fire with Piggy’s glasses. Golding describes this fire as something that was small that becomes something big. When the boys first get on the island, they did not have a source of food...
Words: 485 - Pages: 2
...In the novel the Lord Of The Flies, by William Golding, the author uses symbols or items or ideas that represents something in the book Golding wants to emphasize. Like the conch and Piggy’s glasses both represent the tribe and their state of mind. Another example is the fire, which symbolizes hope of rescue in the book. Golding however also made some symbols change over time to show progress or rather how the tribe went near the savage ways of human nature. The conch for example, started out with beautiful vibrant pinks and whites but by the end of the book it was bleach white and then shattered. Another example is the fire which started as hope for rescue but turned into a symbol of destruction when Jack burned the island to kill Ralph. The conch was found by the soon to be leader Ralph and his acquaintance Piggy on a lagoon in some ferny weeds. Ralph sees a creamy white and asked piggy “ ‘ what’s that? A stone? No. A shell.” (Golding 15) This shows that the at first the conch was beautiful and...
Words: 925 - Pages: 4
...Though a mask may only be a piece of paper, paint on a face or only a carved piece of wood, they all possess an innate symbolic meaning. Masks have many purposes ranging from a religious purposes in Africa to symbolize connections with their ancestors spirits to being used to symbolize emotions when used on stages in theaters. IN William Golding's, Lord of the Flies Ralph and the boys go through many change when they put on their mask ranging from a self detachment to a release of their primeval emotions. On my mask I've arranged all of my symbols on to two sides. On my the left side of my mask I've symbols that represent what makes me happy and calm while on my right side I have symbols that represent what stresses me out or makes me angry. On the direct right side of my mask I have many symbols that illustrate what stresses me out or what makes me angry. All around the inside of the right side of...
Words: 721 - Pages: 3
...How does William Golding support his hypothesis of what could possibly happen on an island when humans and boys in particular are marooned there? You may consider setting, characterization, themes and/or symbolism you must incorporate quotes from the text to support your analysis. William Golding wrote Lord of the Flies shortly after the end of WWII. The novel's plot, in which a group of English boys end up stranded on a deserted island struggle to develop their own society, is a social and political thought-experiment using fiction. The story focuses on their attempts at civilization, devolution into savagery and violence puts the relationship between human nature and society under literary observation. Golding uses several allusions to human evolution, such as when the boys discover fire, craft tools, and form political and social systems in a process that recalled theories of the development of early man. Golding's hypothesis about humanity is pessimistic, that is, there are anarchic and brutal instincts in human nature. He displays this throughout his conveying of the setting, characterization, themes, and symbolism. The novel takes place on an un-known inhabited island in the Pacific Ocean, Immediately in the novel Golding reveals the instinct of the restricted human savagery in the boys in regard to the setting. “Behind this was the darkness of the forest proper and open space of the scar” Page 10. Golding shows the...
Words: 1057 - Pages: 5
...The lord of the flies is a classic tale full of symbolism and mystery, everything is used to represent something else, and that changes reader’s perspective on the novel. Three significant symbols in the book change how most people view the novel. The pig’s head which is set upon a spear, the lord of the flies, plays a big and small part in the novel. Then the character Simon, a loner, represents an iconic figure. Then the Character piggy is to be associated with people themselves. All the symbols play key roles in the true meaning of the novel, but the one most remember is the pig’s head. The lord of the flies, the pig’s head, is the one that seems to play a big role in the novel. The character can be seen as the hidden antagonist or as a minor character. The character is meant to be Lucifer or the devil himself, which explains why he is the “mascot” of jack and his band of savage children, he is the ultimate evil. He changes throughout the novel by being a trophy, a prize pig that the hunters captured. Then a manipulative character, he convinces one boy to try to stop the savages and then the boy gets killed himself. Finally, back to the shadows, he goes as he never talks again. There are always two sides of the same coin though, a good and an evil always exists....
Words: 650 - Pages: 3
...Destruction of Mankind The novel, Lord of the Flies, by William Golding uses the destruction of Human nature shown through the boys stranded on the island. Golding adds into the theme on how easily a society can collapse, how twisted it can be , and self-destruction of society. Emotions have a part in destruction of mankind and Golding incorporated this into the novel; it is panic, fits of madness, and demoralization. Golding uses conflict, symbolism and characters to paint a picture on how men are corrupt. Golding uses conflict to help portray his theme. The conflict Golding uses, is Jack wanting to gain power and control. Ever since Ralph called all the survivors on the island, Jack wanted to be the leader.But he had lost the vote of being leader. He has always demanded power over...
Words: 935 - Pages: 4
...it in their novels Lord of the Flies (Golding) and Heart of Darkness (Conrad). These novels exemplify the methods by which humans have placed checks upon their savage nature, checks which prove to be diaphanous when challenged by true hardships. In both of these stories, the authors attempt to demonstrate the savage nature of the human spirit by utilising symbolism and irony. Both Lord of the Flies and Heart of Darkness are intensely allegorical novels and emphasise the use of symbols. However, these symbols are not merely the characters, but also include their actions and the settings of the stories. For example, the characters of Kurtz and Jack are symbols for the ancestral instincts of humankind. Though they are two separate characters, they are both symbols for the same idea. They are contrasted with Marlow and Ralph, who are also separate apparitions of the same philosophy. Kurtz, the quintessential ivory hunter from Heart of Darkness, is consumed by the desire for ivory and allows his primal nature to dictate his actions. He even goes so far as to proclaim himself a god and order the natives to attack his fellow Europeans. “He informed me, lowering his voice, that it was Kurtz who had ordered the attack to be made on the steamer” (Conrad.145). This shows how far Kurtz had fallen, that he, like Lucifer, would prefer to reign in hell (the Congo) than serve in heaven (Europe). Likewise, Jack, the chief of the hunter clan in Lord of the Flies,...
Words: 1351 - Pages: 6
