The Lord of the Flies by William Golding is a classic novel that explores the consequences of evil and the breakdown of social structures. The novel is set on a deserted island, where a group of young boys are stranded after a plane crash. The boys must work together to survive, but they quickly become divided and turn on each other. Golding uses the symbols of the conch, the "Lord of the Flies", and the consequences of evil to convey the theme that without social structures, humans are capable of committing great evil. The conch in Lord of the Flies is a powerful symbol of social order and the boys' shared values. When Ralph first picks up the conch, he exclaims, "We can use this to call the others. Have a meeting. They'll come when they hear us. (Chapter 1). This quote shows how the conch is used to bring the boys …show more content…
When Simon first encounters the Lord of the Flies, he realizes that it is a manifestation of the boys' fear and savagery. He thinks to himself, "Fancy thinking the beast was something you could hunt and kill! You knew, didn't you? I'm part of you?" (Chapter 8). This quote shows how the Lord of the Flies represents the boys' inner demons and their descent into savagery. The fact that Simon talks to the Lord of the Flies shows how he is grappling with his own inner darkness and how the Lord of the Flies is a symbol of the boys' collective fear and guilt. Later in the novel, when the boys are hunting Ralph, they chant, "Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood!" (Chapter 12). This quote shows how The Lord of the Flies has become a symbol of the boys' bloodlust and their desire for violence. The fact that they are chanting about "spilling blood" shows how they have become completely consumed by their own savagery. Overall, The Lord of the Flies serves as a powerful social symbol in the novel, highlighting the dangers of groupthink and the breakdown of social