In literature, symbols can have multiple meanings, which often change during the course of a book. William Golding demonstrates this concept in his novel, Lord of the Flies, to help his readers understand the purpose behind the book and keep them engaged through critical thinking. Although there are many examples of symbolism in the story, three of the most prominent roles go to the conch, the boys' appearances, and "the beast." In the beginning of the story, a group of young boys crash on an uninhabited island. One of them, Ralph, uses a conch to gather the rest of the survivors together. As time continues, the boys become ferociously savage, presenting man's evil nature. Golding never specifies how long they live on the island, but the extent of their clothe's shabbiness is a good indicator. As if being stranded on an island was not terrifying enough, a sort of religious belief revolving around "the beast" spread like wild fire among the …show more content…
William Golding's Lord of the Flies progresses through symbolic changes, which the conch's meaning switching from leadership to chaos, the meaning of the boy's clothes switching from civilization to savagery, and "the beast" going from being a superstition to the ruler of the island