Lord Of The Flies Conch Analysis

When you are put in a situation where your choices will affect your way of living, will you make the smart choice to keep things running smoothly, or make it hard on everyone because you make a selfish choice? In Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, he places the characters in a predicament similar to the one previously described. However, in order to answer the question, one must be able to understand the meaning behind the characters and symbols. Ralph and the conch are a representation of the civilization and structure needed to maintain life on the island. When people are given the choice of being regulated and having set rules and civilization versus the choice of being wild and free and leading to savagery, choosing the second choice

From this point they figure it can be used to sustain some form of civilization. Ralph, Piggy, and Jack are assigning what the conch will be used for and where it can be used at. “...I’ll give the conch to the next person to speak. He can hold it when he’s speaking (33).” Ralph appoints the conch as the “microphone” or a type of speaking right. As long as you are holding it, you have the right to speak with no interruption. The conch holds a special purpose and everyone must obey that there are rules set in place that goes along with the conch

All of the other boys have started to act wild while Piggy and Ralph were the only two still abiding by the rules they made when they first got to the island. All of the boys still on the island except for Ralph, Piggy, and Sam-n-Eric have become vicious beings. “Which is better- to be a pack of painted Indians like you are, or to be sensible like Ralph is (180).” Piggy is asking everyone (except for Ralph and Sam-n-Eric) would they rather act like savages and turn the place into a mass destruction, or would they rather be sensible and logical like Ralph is and focus on the ultimate goal, which is getting rescued. Ever since the boys have been on the island, Ralph is the only one that has been focused on trying to get rescued the entire time. Ralph is the most civilized and is the only boy on the island capable of being a leader, and he should be the leader in spite of what everyone else