Harry Hook Lord Of The Flies Comparison Essay

The purpose of this essay is to prove that Harry Hooks movie version of Lord of the Flies is a valid adaptation of William Goldings original book version. Hook kept key symbols and character personality traits from the book in his movie which allowed Golding's message to the readers to be communicated properly. Therefore, Hooks movie communicates Golding's subliminal message and vision of characters behaviours accurately making the movie version a positive adaptation of the book.
Harry Hook kept the symbolism in the movie similar if not the same as the book which allowed Golding's message to be communicated accurately. First of all, the conch shell remained a symbol of order and the togetherness of the boys in the movie as it did in the book.

Piggy exclaimed: 'There's one!'" (Golding 13) As it did in both the book and movie the conch shell brought the group of boys together and created order in the group by only the person holding the conch being allowed to speak during meetings with the exception of the chief as Ralph states here "...I'll give the conch to the next person to speak. He can hold it when he's speaking...And he won't be interrupted. Except by me." (Golding 31) This keeps Golding's message of how the conch shell is one of the only symbols creating order amongst the group of boys. Furthermore, Ralph remained the symbol of positive leadership and trust by being voted as chief in the book as well as in the movie. "Ralph! Ralph! Let him be chief with the trumpet-thing." (Golding 19) Although, the influencing factors were different in the two versions such as in the book it was his demeanour and the fact that he blew the conch and in the movie, it was his higher cadet rank compared to Jacks. All deciding factors were still clear associations of Ralphs better capability to be chief. Therefore, still communicating the author's vision of Ralph being good

First of all, Ralphs personality remained identical in both versions of the story. "...but there was a mildness...that proclaimed no devil." (Golding 5) This quote supports the fact that Ralph possesses a charismatic, properly socialised, civilised and intelligent personality with the characteristics of a natural leader thus being the only elected chief of the boys in the story and being consistent with having a signal fire in order to be rescued which shows common sense. Furthermore, Piggy's personality remains accurately portrayed in both the movie and book. "S'right. It's a shell. I seen one like that before. On someone's back wall. A conch he called it. He used to blow it and then his mum would come. It's ever so valuable." (Golding 11) This quote supports the fact that Piggy possesses a greater intelligence and is seen to readers as the closest to an adult from the rest of the boys, he lacks leadership skills, as well as social skills which makes him an outcast to the others. He tries to keep life scientific by justifying what happened to Simon in this quote "It was an accident, that's what it was. An accident. Coming in the dark - he had no business crawling like that out of the dark... He asked for it." (Golding 173) Finally, Hook accurately portrayed Jacks personality according to the book version.