How Does Piggy's Glasses Play In Lord Of The Flies

Lord of the Flies by William Golding takes place in the 1950’s, during World War II. A plane carrying a group of British schoolboys was shot and crash landed on an island. No adults survived. The boys were forced to make shelter and find food for survival. One of the boy's glasses plays an important role in the succession and development of the Lord of the Flies. Ralph, Jack, and Piggy have differing reactions and feelings towards the glasses that progress and change throughout the book.
Piggy views his glasses as a way of protection. Without his glasses, he can’t really see. “‘Jus’ blurs, that’s all. Hardly see my hand-’” (Golding 41). Early in the Lord of the Flies, when Ralph asked Piggy his name, he responds saying he doesn’t care what

Since the beginning of Lord of the Flies, Jack has wanted to be in charge, to have power. In Chapter 2, Ralph gives in to Jack’s thirst for power, naming him leader of the choir boys as hunters. Now the boys could get meat to cook over the fire to feed the hungry boys that are tired of eating fruit. Jack being able to provide food gave him more authority and popularity with the young boys. The littluns naturally gravitated towards Jack because he supplied meat which offered a better chance of survival. As an instinct, humans lean towards those that offer them safety and reassurance. Because of Ralph’s and Jack’s inability to work together in harmony, Jack split off forming his own tribe and asked who wished to be a part of it. Nearly all the boys felt that Jack was the best option over Ralph, giving Jack a sense of pride and power. Once Jack claimed his territory at Castle Rock, the boys realised they couldn’t cook the pig they hunted so they stole fire from Ralph and the others. After some time, Jack figured that he might as well take Piggy’s glasses, giving him even more power because he now has full possession of the only item known on the island that was able to make fire. “Far off along the bowstave of the beach, three figures trotted toward the Castle Rock... The chief led them, trotting steadily, exulting in his achievement... From his left hand dangled Piggy’s broken glasses”

There are different perceptions of objects to different people, and the glasses in Lord of the Flies are a prime example of that statement. The glasses, to Ralph, gave him a sense of reassurance of being rescued as the glasses were the only way the boys could create a smoke signal to oncoming ships and planes. Jack used them to hold and obtain power over the boys on the island and the glasses kept Piggy feeling safe and secure. This symbol is important to the succession of the story line in a way that portrays human nature. The boys were thrown out into the wild forcing them to mature and a majority turned into savages to survive. The boys on the island have matured throughout the book, gradually becoming more and more capable to take care of themselves and using their resources. Using the one most vital resource the boys have, the glasses, they managed to get the attention of a ship that happened to pass