Fire In Lord Of The Flies

History has demonstrated that human beings can do very deplorable things when in groups. In his allegorical novel Lord of the Flies, William Golding focus on a group of British boys stranded on an inhabited island and tries to govern themselves with disastrous results. He shows the dark side of human psychology and how our morality is flexible depending on the situation we are in. The meaning of the symbols in the novel is change with the developing of the story and plays an important role.

The symbolization of the conch is social order, respect and democratic power. Ralph and Piggy discovered the shell on the beach at the start of the story and use it to summon the boys together after they were separated by the crash so that they can share

First, the fire represents civilization and hope. Fire is the symbol of people from primitive to civilized and separated human from animals. In the story, Ralph knows that if they want to come back to civilized society, they must make fire to get attention from the passing boats and planes. “The place under the palm trees was full of noise and movement” (Golding 49). The fire is the hope, is the connection between the boys and civilized world and is the signal of rescue. Except the fire makes by the boys, there has another “fire” happens on the place that Simon always stays. “Their green sepals drew back a little and the white tips of the flowers rose delicately to meet the open air” (Golding 72). When Simon first sees these flowers, he calls them candles. Although this “fire” is not as bright as real fire, it can illumines Simon’s heart and let him think deeply what is the beast. Second, the fire represents ruin and destruction. Fire not only can bring people warn and hope but also can bring disaster. “Smoke was rising here and there among the creepers that festooned the dead or dying trees” (Golding 56). The boys are shocked by the vast fire and don’t know what to do. The hopeful fire reveals its destructive side and start changing its role. Because the boys are fear about the beast from the top of the mountain, they begin losing interest to keep the fire and start moving the fire down to the bottom of the mountain. This