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Conch Shell In Lord Of The Flies Essay

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Golding's The Lord of the Flies is packed with strong forms of symbolism and allegories. Golding believed that humans struggled with the concept of what is good and bad, and that evil is a part of our basic human nature. He expressed these ideas through characters such as Jack, Simon, and the Lord of the Flies, or beastie, as the boys called it. The conch shell was a symbol that showed how easy a society can become corrupt. Golding used these symbols to address different allegories present in the text.

The conch is a powerful symbol in The Lord of the Flies. It represents authority and government, and most important, civilization. In the beginning, the conch was a powerful symbol of the boy’s society they created. “Shut up," said Ralph absently. He lifted the conch. "Seems to me we ought to have a chief to decide things" (Golding 19). They used the conch to speak and make decisions as a group. It represented a democracy. The conch shell is also a prime example of the fall of government and society. …show more content…

Simon is a character Golding used to create a Christian allegory in The Lord of the Flies. Golding conveyed a Jesus-like figure through Simon, whereas the Lord of the Flies is the Devil. Simon stayed moral and human while the rest of the boys became savages as the society crumbled. Simon knew the beast the other boys talked about was their own fear. That is was just the evil side of their human nature. When the Lord of the Files confronted him in the form of the pig, it shows how natural good can be overwhelmed by large amounts of evil. This later happens again when the hunters brutality murder him. He knew that the beast was their own fear that lies within. “You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you? Close, close, close! I’m the reason why it’s no go? Why things are the way they are?” (Golding

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The meaning of the conch to Jack was also extremely important in Lord of the Flies. Jack had always been power hungry since the beginning of the book. At first, he refused to show that side of himself to anyone else. His fear of letting others see his true self had made him adapt some respect towards the conch. This was demonstrated when Jack proposed to have another election for chief and had loss to Ralph once again.

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In one of his very complicating and diversed novel Lord of The Flies , William Golding brings out as many ideas and literally devices was used by him . The symbolism of the three main objects is the Conch , the fire and Piggy’s glasses. By each of this symbols , William Golding does show how the boys change throughout The Lord of The Flies novel and how they adapt with the life on island . All three of the symbols listed are the the most important elements of and in the story of Lord of The Flies The first example of symbol that was actually used throughout Lord of The Flies book is the Conch.

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In the Lord of the Flies, Ralph and Piggy discover a conch shell on the beach. The Conch is used to summon the boys altogether after the crash that separates them. The conch shell becomes a powerful symbol of civilization and order in the novel. I think the Conch symbolizes as the last reminder of civilization or the holder of conch is powerful because the Conch is a difficult tool to use/ activate. The reason that Ralph was the leader of the group was because he could activate the conch and that conch is seen as power and authority towards the boys.

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Indeed Lord of the Flies has tremendous amounts of connections to the real world. Important events, speeches by characters and even words tend to act as an allegory to the real world. I felt that the most important word of the book would be: “Conch”. The “Conch” is a shell of “ deep cream, touched here and there with fading pink” (16). and the authors expresses its value to be very expensive “ -- a conch, ever so expensive” (16).

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The conch in Lord of the Flies is a powerful symbol of social order and the boys' shared values. When Ralph first picks up the conch, he exclaims, "We can use this to call the others. Have a meeting. They'll come when they hear us. (Chapter 1).

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Symbolism of the Conch in Lord of the Flies by William Golding represents civilization. The novel Lord of the Flies is about a group of boys from England who have been stranded on an island after an airplane crash. They are expected to fend for themselves and are slowly reverting back to their primal savage ways. The group is quickly split into two a savage side and a rational, civilized side. Throughout the novel a key symbol was the conch.

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In Lord of the Flies, William Golding uses items and people to symbolize many different things. These symbolic things include Piggy’s glasses, Simon’s epilepsy, the Lord of the Flies, and arguably the most important symbol, the conch shell. The conch shell was first found in the water by Piggy, who then comes up with the idea of using the conch as a blow horn to call for meetings. Throughout Lord of the Flies, the conch shell becomes not only associated with Ralph and his leadership, but with Piggy and his intuitive and wise ideas and Jack and his dictator-like, irresponsible authority. The conch shell, representing law and order, assisted in the election of Ralph as chief and ultimately determines the future of the island.

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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.

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In the novel, Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, the conch is a primary symbol, which represents civility and order. Throughout the book it served as a power tool that the boys highly respected, in fact, the symbolism of the conch begins before it is even blown. Ralph is the one who originally discovers and posses the shell, but it’s Piggy who explains it’s significance. Piggy has to teach Ralph how to blow it; this shows how from the beginning the conch is linked with both Piggy and Ralph.

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Well, the conch portrays power and authority. When a meeting needed to be held the conch was blown to round up all of the boys.

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The conch has more than one symbolic meaning to it which helps the reader to better understand the theme of power, civilization, and rules. In the story the author uses the conch as a symbol

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