Conch Shell In Lord Of The Flies

167 Words1 Pages
In the novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding, the conch shell represents Ralph’s power, and how it changes over the course of the story. In the beginning, Ralph is elected chief because “…his size, and attractive appearance; [but] most obscurely, yet most powerfully, there was the conch.” (22). At this point, the conch is bright and bold, displaying vivid colors and producing a powerful sound when it is blown. However over time, "exposure to the air had bleached the [conch] to near white and transparency," (78). This is meant to represent the deterioration of Ralph’s power, and thus marks the beginning of chaos and savagery on the island. Near the end, “the conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist.” (181). The