ipl-logo

Conch Shell And Lord Of The Flies Analysis

788 Words4 Pages

A world of order turns into corruption when weakness triggers the defects of human nature. In The Lord of the Flies, William Golding illustrates the effect weakness has on the actions of humankind. He gives readers two symbols, the conch shell and The Lord of the Flies, in order to communicate how authority and order can be broken when the evil in all of humanity is stirred. The boys on the island do not see a correlation between the conch shell and the The Lord of the Flies, rather they only see a loss of order by a desire to stay alive. Golding wants readers to see much more, creating an image of how the world changes because of the evil inside each person. The Lord of the Flies is a microcosm of the larger world. The symbols of the conch shell and The Lord of the Flies illustrate order, evil, and how the two subjects relate and create a reason for the larger world’s corruption. …show more content…

When the boys were stranded on the island in the Pacific Ocean, they were left to fend for themselves without parental guidance. The fair boy, Ralph, found a conch shell and used it to summon meetings and provide a sense of control. This shell was a powerful symbol of civilization and order. The inhabited land that the boys took over had no form of government or set of rules to keep the civilization functioning properly. Without advice or guidance, this shell provided a way of keeping the island organized distributing roles to each person. Without the conch shell, there was no order, and chaos prevailed. To the boys, the shell was an object that maintained control. To the rest of the world, this shell represents the need for authority and the disasters that can rule over that control if it is

Show More
Related
894 Words | 4 Pages

The conch shell loses its power and influence over the boys as their island civilization deteriorates and they fall into savagery. The smashing of the conch shell symbolizes the demise of the civilized instinct within a majority of the boys on the island. The Signal Fire- It burns on the mountain and the beach; to grab the attention of passing ships that could potentially save the boys.

Read More
1709 Words | 7 Pages

First used to call the boys together, it’s later used to regulate the boys and their discussions during their beach assemblies. When “the pink lips of the shell” are portrayed, this suggests that the conch is a living thing. As such, it could also symbolically die. “ 'His specs–use

Read More
653 Words | 3 Pages

In William Golding's novel Lord of the Flies, the reader comprehends symbols that go throughout the book. These symbols are key factors which determine the importance of the novel. The symbols are a very important part of the literary content. In order to really follow along and understand the story, the reader must understand these symbols for what they mean as well as how they are used. Some of the symbols include the conch, the island itself, and fire.

Read More
112 Words | 1 Pages

The conch shell embodies civilization and organization , a very important topic in the book. This symbol plays an enormous character in how the boys will stay true to civilization. Golding pronounces the conch will suffer inevitably. Throughout this electrifying narrative, the author greatly expands on the boys'

Read More
1369 Words | 6 Pages

The conch shell is used and obtained as a method to maintain order on the island despite the other boy’s rejection and retrogression into a savage-like behavior. Discovered by Piggy on the beach when he first meets Ralph, the boys use the shell to call all of the boys on the island to the beach and with it establish rules that they expect the boys to follow until the time of their rescue. Ralph is the one who cherishes the conch the most and the idea of orderly control that is held behind it. He automatically takes upon the leadership role given to him by the other boys in the group. Along by his side he takes upon Piggy, his righthand man,who becomes the moral compass and rational thought for all the boys on the island.

Read More
661 Words | 3 Pages

In the novel there are two main symbols that wield the most power and are the most influential on the characters. These two symbols are the conch shell and the sow’s head. On many occasions, not only do these objects have a certain power of their own, but characters in the novel use them to obtain power for themselves. The conch shell is a very influential symbol and in the novel, and it possesses a considerable amount of power.

Read More
920 Words | 4 Pages

The conch shell was used to talk in meetings but then evolved into evil. Not only that but the signal fire was used to signal help but used it to their use and did cruels and unskippable behaviors with it. How blameless a simple shell can be the conch shell symbolizes how evil situations can be. In this book, roger,

Read More
1511 Words | 7 Pages

The conch shell is first found by Piggy and Ralph who use it to call for survivors. The shell is then established as a symbol of democracy, as found in this quote, “... I’ll give the conch to the next person to speak. He can hold it when he’s speaking,” (33). Allowing each boy to speak when in possession of the conch shows that, although Ralph is chief, all boys can have a say in the rulings of the island. This democratic system is a beginning representation of our world in which everyone knows their place and there is overall peace.

Read More
1951 Words | 8 Pages

The conch shell plays a big part in Ralph’s authority and order. His leadership skills, along with the conch by his side, is what made the other kids on the island listen and idolize him. Golding glorifies the power of Ralph and his conch shell in order to represent control, which is important to the ongoing order and regulation of the boys throughout their time on the island. Without the shell, there would be no order among the lives of the boys on the uninhabited island. In addition to Ralph promoting the power of the conch, Jack also agrees and emphasizes that in order to run a society, there must be a strong and rational set of rules that needs to be followed.

Read More
1193 Words | 5 Pages

1. Shortly after arriving on the island, Ralph and Piggy discover a conch in the water. Ralph blows the conch to announce his location so the boys can gather. From the first use of the conch, it signifies the unity of the boys because it is what brought them together. The conch is also used to maintain organization.

Read More
709 Words | 3 Pages

Golding uses the conch shell as a symbol of order and civilization on the island of boys. In the beginning, the conch is a beautiful shell that holds power and respect, but in the end of the book, the shell no longer holds the power and it is not important to the more savage boys such as Jack and Roger. The shell is destroyed when Piggy is killed which represents the loss of order as they turn into savages and descend to hell. A subtheme that is portrayed by this is that the most beautiful and orderly things in life can be destroyed by evil. When the boys first arrive they all come to the call of the shell on the paradise island.

Read More
1036 Words | 5 Pages

¨Maybe there is a beast... maybe it 's only us¨. This quote was written by William Golding, the author of Lord of the Flies. This quote connects to the symbolism developed throughout the book Lord of the Flies because through the story the characters learn the beast is themselves all along. This connects to the symbolism of the conch because the conch is part of what makes the boys become the ¨beasts¨. In Lord of the Flies one major symbol is the conch. The conch is a shell that Piggy and Ralph, two of the main characters, find in the beginning of the story.

Read More
969 Words | 4 Pages

Literary Analyses of the Lord of the Flies The Lord of the Flies demonstrates a wide variety of symbolism; from Christ to Satan the children are portrayed in an abstract manner to represent these religious beings, as well as a symbol of great strife for power. Two of the main symbolic devices are used in the form of a mystical Conch and a cumbersome Sow’s head perched atop a stake; however these symbols represent very different ideas. Next the Lord of the Flies demonstrates the burden and struggle of power in multiple ways. William Golding included within this novel the power of symbolism, using inanimate objects, characters, or even landmasses to represent ideals derived from basic human morals and Christian religion that has a major influence

Read More
1781 Words | 8 Pages

(Golding 15). The conch shell is used to make the rules among the children. Ralph, who is elected the chief since he was the one to use the conch shell first, makes the rule that no one can speak unless they are holding the conch shell. The shell helps order the chaos at the beginning of the novel and keep everyone in

Read More
1906 Words | 8 Pages

Humankind has always dreamed of a happy, prosperous life and tried to find stable bases of social relations as well as tried to agree on rules of coexistence. Evidence of this can be found in the most ancient sources. One of the first descriptions of fair social life are in the famous works of ancient Greece thinkers (Hamedi Dashti 2014). In the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the question of the optimal social structure was embodied in various social projects.

Read More

More about Conch Shell And Lord Of The Flies Analysis

Related Topics

Open Document