The impact of this book on young kids is greater than any other. In Lord of the Flies the story of a group of young British students stranded on a desert island after a plane crash is thrilling and disturbing. From the first moments that the boys set foot on the island, the search for power is evident, and the events that unfold are both shocking and thought-provoking. The use of symbolism, particularly the conch, the beast, and the bonfire, conveys the important themes of power corruption and the fragility of a young civilization. Ultimately, symbolism takes this book to another level throughout the vast ideas that are presented. One of the central symbols of the novel is the conch, which is a powerful symbol of order and civilization. At …show more content…
The haunting idea of a mysterious, terrifying creator that lives on the island with them. This fear of the beast drove many boys to violence and irrational behavior; worst of all, the fear drove the boys straight to Jack, who was posing as the only protection from this “beast.” The beast is a symbol of the boys collective fear and their descent into savagery. As the boys become more savage, their fear of the beast grows, and they begin to attribute supernatural traits to it, almost like a god. This is discussed heavily in Chapter 8 when the boys are discussing and Simon says, “What I mean is… maybe it's only us.” (80) Simon is saying that the littluns are blinded by this beast but are really only seeing the boys themselves. Simon's words suggest that the true “beast” is the boys themselves and their own sense of evil. Golding’s use of the “beast” to convey the theme of power corruption as the symbol is both mysterious and terrifying. Just like the corruption-inducing influence of power itself. The significance of the boy's fear for the beast is that it elucidates how easily fear manipulates people into following them. Golding’s language is effective in creating an atmosphere of fear and paranoia on the island that surrounds the boys, which serves as a vulnerable resource to the corruption that Jack cleverly uses. Overall, the use of the “beast” as a symbol is a powerful commentary on the corrupting influence of