Allusions In Lord Of The Flies

In his 1954 novel Lord of the Flies, Nobel Prize-winning author William Golding incorporates various Biblical allusions to add depth and complexity to the story. The uninhabited island, upon which a group of boys find themselves stranded, can be likened to the Garden of Eden from the book of Genesis. It is depicted as a paradise-like setting filled with an abundance of resources that quickly becomes marred in the presence of man. While some of the boys embody the essences of good and evil, the character Simon is portrayed as a Christ-like figure, as he is generous and empathetic to his companions. The encounter between Simon and the pig’s head also serves as a metaphor of the constant struggle that can be found between morality’s two spectrums.

However, as the story progresses, the island's peaceful image is shattered as it quickly becomes a place of chaos and savagery instead. The boys' inevitable descent into corruption is evident from the moment of their arrival, starting with the "scar" (p. 1) caused by the airplane crash. The arrival of mankind progressively destroys the harmony of the island, from accidentally setting a fire that goes out of control (p. 44) to killing wild pigs for sport (p. 72), and eventually intentionally burning the entire island (p. 216). The island’s transformation echoes the fall of man in Genesis, where after the serpent tempts Adam and Eve with fruit from the tree of good and evil (Genesis 3), the pair were subsequently cast out from the garden to prevent further tainting it. Their banishment therefore prevents the destruction of the Garden as they could have ruined it, like how the boys devastated the island. The decline of morality in the boys from their first arrival represents the gradual loss of innocence as sin is slowly introduced into their surroundings. Through this comparison between the island and the Garden of Eden, one can see how prone human nature is to fall into darkness and chaos despite being presented with a seemingly perfect

His selflessness and willingness to help others is evident through his efforts to reach for fruit for the littluns (p. 57) regardless of their contributions, and also in being the only one to help Ralph build the shelters (p. 50). Simon’s benevolence reflects Christ-like manners, as Jesus is known for having compassion for those around Him. For instance, throughout his many travels, Jesus was constantly placing the needs of others before His own, through healing the sick and feeding the hungry (Matthew 14:13-21). Similar to Christ, Simon is portrayed as an outsider due to his spiritual beliefs and his tendency to think differently. Simon’s beliefs of the inherent goodness of people and his desire to help others can be seen as parallel to Christ’s message of love and