Pivotal Symbols in Lord of the Flies
In William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, various symbols represent the shift from an organized civilization to an unsystematic life of savagery. While this change appears gradual, certain situations emphasize the dramatic turns in the boys’ civilization. The overall decline of the boys’ civilization occurs “as in filling a vessel drop by drop, there is at last a drop which makes it run over” as said in Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. The boys decide to run an organized civilization, however, disagreements begin to tear them as well as their civilized lifestyles apart. Golding uses symbols such as the conch shell, the signal fire, and Piggy’s glasses to illustrate the obstacles the boys face in attempt of
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Used in this competence, the conch shell serves as the first step towards civilization and order in the novel. As the group grows more efficient, the conch summons the boys for group meetings and permits the boys to speak in an organized manner. Each boy abided by the standards enforced by the conch and “by the time Ralph finished blowing the conch, the platform was crowded.” (Golding 32) When the civilization begins to decline, the effectiveness of the conch shell starts to erode. Ralph insists that “rules are the only thing [they’ve] got” that will keep them united. (Golding 91) However, Jack, who implemented the rules in the past, asserts that they do not need rules and “[they] don’t need the conch anymore [because they] know who ought to say things.” (Golding 102) As the novel progresses, the conch does not bring the group together, but measures the deterioration of their civilization. As the boys’ adherence to the conch shell decreases, their compliance to the rules of their civilization also decreases. Ultimately, the destruction of the shell marks the overall end of their