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Symbols In Lord Of The Flies Symbolism Essay

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Symbolism
Throughout William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, there is symbolism strewn all throughout the book, including the cover, which it spilled onto as the book is so full to the brim of it. Lord of the Flies is a novel published in 1954, following a group of boys and their experiences while stuck on a deserted island with no adults present. Golding’s novel explores themes such as human nature and discovery of the thing itself, and the path to unlocking it while using various symbols as tools to do do. Symbolism is expressed and used to delve deep into topics in a very un-cliche way, the four main symbols being Piggy’s spectacles, the conch found on the beach the first day the boys are on the island, the face paint used to hunt, and the …show more content…

"Shut up," said Ralph absently. He lifted the conch. "Seems to me we ought to have a chief to decide things." "A chief! A chief!" "I ought to be chief," said Jack with simple arrogance, "because I'm chapter chorister and head boy. I can sing C sharp." (28-30). The discovery of the conch results in a desire for order and rules: the very thing the object represents itself. Representing civilization, it brings all of the boys together as one and unites them, forming a group, letting them become one, together. This quote (as does the conch) as used by William Golding suggests the fact that the rules are made up but that isn’t to say that we should not respect or realise their value to all people, which the boys do not consider until after the conch is broken, letting chaos and mayhem take over. "'And another thing. We can't have everybody talking at once. We'll have to have 'Hands up' like at school.' He held the conch before his face and glanced round the mouth. 'Then I'll give him the conch.' 'Conch?' 'That's what this thing is called. I'll give the conch to the next person to speak. He can hold it when he's speaking'" (33). In this quote, the the conch represents authoritarianism during the second meeting with the boys as a group in the beginning of the novel. This passage also proves the symbolism of the conch as civilization that has order as well as one that is somewhat just. Ralph then proceeds to teach the other boys on the island how to use the conch, telling them to take their own turns while in a meeting, which is similar and can represent the ways in which parliament tries to act out meetings of their own. The conch represents order and what comes with such a concept, with the threat of anarchy, proven throughout the

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But some boys who would hold the conch did not get the authority to speak, and that symbolized how such a governed civilization can go downhill quickly. Throughout the novel, the conch symbolizes democracy but when it breaks it symbolizes destruction. The conch represented a democracy, and the boys were of order during the time it was in use. At the start of the story, Ralph and Piggy found the conch.

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Ralph argues with Jack and declares,“... haven’t got the conch... You’re breaking the rules! Who cares… Because rules are all we got… Bollocks to the rules” (91). This further shows the conch’s significance of civilization, since having no rules can lead to chaotic savages.

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At the instant the conch shatters all authority is lost. The conch not only symbolized rules and authority but it separates the boys by if they want to follow the rules either under Ralph's authority or

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The same up here as down there" (Golding 42). This indicates that the conch has power over where the meetings are, which is where people’s points are heard out and the important things are said. This is to control and set the authority of the conch. The conch indicates the theme of control by showing that the conch was why Ralph was picked to be the leader and control the tribe, along with the conch dictating where a meeting is held on the

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This item was the first thing shown to represent authority with it, a rule they were still accustomed to. " Shut up," said Ralph absently. He lifted the conch". With the raising of this simple beach found object silence is drawn across across the fellow boys because of the respect they have the object. But with the regression of respect for Ralph caused by Jack's often bursts of disagreement for him and him sharing his views and points when he didn't have the conch subconsciously lead the the kids to see the conch is a mere shell.

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(Golding 16) As soon as the conch is picked up from the water, it is shown as a representative for the voice of an assembly. The conch is presumed to be used in a positive approach of groupthink, but some kids took advantage of it like Jack, Maurice, and Roger. It was a mystical symbol for order and leadership. Jack used this symbol in a negative way. He wanted to be the chief of the group and he separated the group.

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The conch shell is first found by Piggy and Ralph who use it to call for survivors. The shell is then established as a symbol of democracy, as found in this quote, “... I’ll give the conch to the next person to speak. He can hold it when he’s speaking,” (33). Allowing each boy to speak when in possession of the conch shows that, although Ralph is chief, all boys can have a say in the rulings of the island. This democratic system is a beginning representation of our world in which everyone knows their place and there is overall peace.

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The conch starts off as a symbol for civilization, however as the book progresses it is also a symbol for the loss of civilized manners and maintaining order, and this is shown through the ability to start meetings, granting the ability to talk, and the destruction of the conch. The conch had the ability

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The conch was was first brought them all together, and it symbolizes civilization. Throughout the beginning of the story, whenever the conch is blown, all the boys gather on the beach, after being separated. It unifies them again and again, over and over, until, it stops working, and the boys refuse to listen to it. When the conch is broken, the boys lose their sense of civilization. At the beginning of the book, they had respect for the conch and whoever was holding it.

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Ralph notices the discord but resolves it by enforcing, “I 'll give the conch to the next person to speak. He can hold it when he 's speaking” (Golding 33). The conch represents the discipline of the boys and their civilization. Since Ralph thought to use the conch as a speaking system, the conch represents his leadership and authority over the boys. It also represents his authority because he is the only boy that does not need the conch to speak.

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Throughout the book, the conch represents order. For instance, Ralph says “...I’ll give the conch to the next person to speak to. He can hold it when he’s speaking.” (Golding 32). To prevent complete chaos during meetings, the person holding the conch is only allowed to speak.

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This is an example of the rules the conch symbolizes because, when Ralph holds the conch up they all know they need to be quiet and do as he says. Another example that shows the conchs rules is when the author writes ¨He held the conch before his face and glanced around the mouth. ´ Then i 'll give him the conch. ´ ´

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The conch is an important symbol because it helps the boys stay civilized and not chaotic. For example, Ralph says, “I’ll give the conch to the next person to speak. He can hold it when he’s speaking” (31). They will use the conch for when they are at meetings so that no one talks at the same time, and to make the society refined. In addition, William golding states, “The conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist” (164).

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