Symbolism in Lord of the Flies - 1365 Words

Symbolism in Lord of The Flies William Goldings Lord of the Flies is a novel about a group of English school boys who are stranded on a tropical island after their plane has been attacked and crashes during World War II. In the beginning, the boys like being on their own without adults. The boys separate into two groups, led by Jack and Ralph. Jack is obsessed with hunting, and he and his group pay do not pay attention. Ralph is concerned about keeping a rescue fire lit so they will have a chance to be rescued, but no one else seems too concerned about it. At least one ship passes by without noticing the boys on the island. Things on the island deteriorate into chaos and savagery. Jack and his tribe are consumed with hunting and†¦show more content†¦As time passes that wears off and they become uncontrollable like the fire. ( ) A final symbol of savagery is the fire used by Jack to kill Ralph and burn down the whole island, making it sterile and uninhabitable ( ). In Lord of the Flies the symbols of rational and irrational thinking show the boys decent to becoming uncivilized. Piggys glasses are symbolic of rational thinking. The boys use them to light the signal fires in hopes of being rescued (Frost). The breaking of Piggy’s glasses is symbolic of irrational thinking and breaking the last tie to humanity that the boys have. The building of shelters symbolizes rational thoughts and actions that are part of a constructive society. The thought of hunting, playing and doing anything they want symbolizes irrational thinking. Jack uses Piggy’s glasses to start a fire to smoke Ralph out of hiding meanwhile, destroying the shelters and fruit trees symbolizing how irrational Jack is thinking. The symbol of rational thinking, Ralph and the symbol of irrational thinking, Jack are at opposite ends of the spectrum when talking about leadership. Ralph is not only a rational thinker, but a moral person, keeping fairness in his group. Ralph de cides what is best for the group as a whole showing his leadership skills. Jack gives the boys what Ralph is not able to: fun and games, the thrill of adventure, and the excitement of bloody rituals as a result of irrationalShow MoreRelatedLord Of The Flies : Symbolism1012 Words   |  5 PagesBabatunde Carter (Jnr) English 102-0501 Mrs. Geneva Cannon 16th, November , 2015 Lord of the flies : The Symbolism of the Conch For Centuries philosophers and scholars have bantered about the topic of whether man is naturally fiendish. William Golding offers this conversation starter in his sensible novel â€Å"Lord of the Flies†. Set on a tropical island amid World War II, the novel starts when school boys from Incredible England are being traveled to well being and their plane is shotRead MoreSymbolism in The Lord Of The Flies.812 Words   |  4 PagesWilliam Golding was a British writer. He has written several novels, and has won the Nobel Prize in Literature. His best known novel is The Lord of The Flies, published in 1954. In The Lord of the Flies, William Golding uses different themes and symbols to get the point of the novel across. These symbols include the pigs head, the conch, and even the boys themselves. The author uses symbols to show societys’ rules and faults. The first symbol is the conch. Ralph and Piggy discoverRead MoreLord Of The Flies Symbolism Analysis1131 Words   |  5 PagesIn Lord of the Flies (LoF) by William Golding, symbols are used to illustrate Golding’s bleak views of the basic instincts of man. It appears that Golding believes that no matter whom you are or what your life is like, your basic instincts and compulsions are dark, and self-preserving. The majority of this story can be read symbolically whether through the islands structure, the characters if the boys, or the objects occurring within the book. However the symbolism of the conch, the lord of theRead MoreSymbolism In Lord Of The Flies824 Words   |  4 PagesGolding challenges this mindset in his novel, Lord of the Flies. Ralph, a child stranded on a deserted island in Lord of the Flies, agrees with today’s society’s logic at first, stating, â€Å"‘Weve got to have rules and obey them. After all, were not savages. Were English, and the English are best at everything’ (Golding 42). Evident from the events that take place throughout the book, however, the opposite is true. According to Golding’s Lord of the Flies, society is unable to function without a clearRead MoreLord Of The Flies Symbolism Analysis766 Words   |  4 PagesLord Of The Flies In William Golding’s â€Å"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. The conch is just a shell, But it does represents much more than that, the conch is power, order, respect and civility and when its broken, It’s the loss of civilization. The conch is first found by Piggy and Ralph when they first get to the beach. Piggy who’s seen one beforeRead MoreLord Of The Flies Symbolism Analysis710 Words   |  3 PagesLord of the Flies William Golding’s use of Symbolism for Leadership, Survival, and Intelligence †All nature is a vast symbolism; every material fact has sheathed within a spiritual truth† (Edwin Hubbell Chapin)In life there is a lot of symbolisation especially with nature, everything is one thing but can stand for a totally different objective. Being symbolic happens not only in life but in the book in many ways.In the story there is symbolism on good and bad and each stand for what is neededRead MoreLord Of The Flies Symbolism Essay2025 Words   |  9 PagesOftentimes authors will use symbolism through the characters in order to represent a larger encompassing theme. William Golding’s book Lord of the Flies is no exception to this pattern—as various characters in the book have such allegorical meanings. In the case of Jack, he could be said to represent the evilness in humanity, proven by three established concepts in the story: the true nature of his hunting tendencies, the progression of events that happen in his dancing rituals, and his intera ctionsRead MoreLord Of The Flies Symbolism Analysis968 Words   |  4 Pages Lord of the Flies In William Goldings novel Lord of the Flies, he demonstrates the struggle of being trapped on an island containing no civilization and the attempt to remain safe. As the conflict starts to occur on the island, the battle to stay alive and hope to be rescued becomes more challenging for the boys. Throughout the novel, many symbolic elements become significant and are prominently used to get the reader to interpret things differently and see things in other perspectives. In theRead MoreLord Of The Flies Symbolism Analysis752 Words   |  4 PagesLord of the Flies, by William Golding, is full of symbolism and allegories. Three important symbols are the conch shell that represents civilization, the fire that represents hope, and the outside world that the boys represent. The conch shell represents civilization, order, and power. For example, in the beginning of the novel, Ralph blows the conch shell, in hopes of attracting other boys that may be on the island; and, soon, other boys do appear. The conch has brought the boys together, andRead MoreSymbolism And Symbolism In Lord Of The Flies By William Golding892 Words   |  4 PagesThroughout the novel, author William Golding includes symbolism that hints at irony, foreshadowing, and a variety of themes. These symbols contribute to the depth and meaning of the story, allowing the characters to act under their influence. In Lord of the Flies, there is a numerous amount of symbols, such as the signal fire, the conch, and the ritual. The signal fire possesses many symbolic meanings essential to the story, Lord of the Flies. In the beginning of the novel, Ralph started a signal