Symbols In Lord Of The Flies, By William Golding

In the novel, Lord of the Flies, William Golding includes a Large selection of symbols to represent the boys' struggle on the island. Throughout the use of the conch shell and Piggy's glasses, the reader can see the theme of when power structures erode, man dissolves into savagery.

The conch shell starts a desire for power, that then divides the group of boys and their civilization. When Jack said " We don't need the conch anymore. We know who ought to say things. What good did Simon do speaking, or Bill, or Walter? It's time some people knew they've got to keep quiet and leave deciding things to the rest of us." (101,102) This moment starts the downfall of the civilization because Jack ceases to think not all the boys should have a say so in what's right or wrong. In addition, when Piggy was killed

" Piggy put on his glasses. “Nobody knows where we are,” said Piggy. He was paler than before and breathless. “Perhaps they knew where we were going to, and perhaps not. But they don’t know where we are ’cos we never got there.” (34) When Piggy did this, it showed that he perceives that he is smarter than the other boys, and a key point to the group of boys. When the boys made the signal fire, they used Piggy's glasses to start the fire with the lens flare. Throughout the book, Jack had been wanting Piggy's glasses for his own use. "The chief led them, trotting steadily, exulting in his achievement. He was a chief now in truth, and he made stabbing motions with his spear. From his left hand dangled Piggy’s broken glasses." (168) The use of Piggy's glasses caused dispute and conflict between the boys. The symbol of Piggy's glasses resembles intellectual use and savagery for things you want. Since Jack wanted Piggy's glasses, Roger rolled the rock onto him, killing him and leaving the glasses. Once someone wants something they will go out of their way to destroy and conquer to get what they