What Does The Beast Symbolize In Lord Of The Flies

Imagine a group of helpless boys stranded on an isolated island fighting for their lives with no reassurance of survival. In William Golding’s novel, Lord of the Flies, uses three symbols to……: Piggy’s specs, the beast, and the conch. While they try to achieve civilization, the specs and the conch are overtaken by the fear of a “Beast”. In the novel, Piggy’s specs represent rationality, intelligence, and order; the beast represents fear and violence, and the conch represents power, unity and democracy. Throughout the rest of Golding’s novel, these three important symbols unfold and change the characters completely.

One of the main symbols Golding uses is the beast. The beast symbolizes fear and savagery. In reality, the beast only exists in

Piggy’s specs symbolize rationality, intelligence, and order. Piggy’s glasses are used to start a fire and the fire is a key element in the novel since the fire is used as a rescue sign. Later in the novel when Piggy’s glasses are shattered all civility and order disappears and the island becomes complete chaos and filled with violence. The glasses also symbolize clear sight so metaphorically, the boys are blind to civilization. Towards the beginning of the book, Jack realizes Piggy’s specs can be used to start a signal fire and he quickly rips them off of Piggy. “His specs—use them as burning glasses!” (34) Jack ripping Piggy's specs is foreshadowing the later events of Jack stealing his Piggy's glasses so his savage tribe can light fire for food. Another quote that is an example of Piggy's specs representing rationality and clear sight is at a meeting in the beginning of the book when Piggy is trying to explain to the boys how no one knows where 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; and perhaps not. But they don’t know where we are ’cos we never got there.” In this quote piggy puts on his glasses and he has clear sight both metaphorical and actual. After Piggy puts on his specs he is able to think logically about the boy’s

The conch is more than just a pretty shell; The conch symbolizes many things. Some examples are unity, order, law and power. From the very beginning of the book, the conch was used as a power tool and to create a sense of order. The boys could only talk in meetings if they were in possession of the conch. The conch is the sole reason why Ralph became leader, even though Piggy found the conch. Piggy couldn't blow it because of his asthma, so Ralph blew it and got all the praise for it. As the novel progresses, most of the boys turn into savages and that is when the conch slowly fades away. When Piggy dies, the conch shatters and completely gets destroyed. That is shown in this quote. “The rock struck Piggy a glancing blow from chin to knee; the conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist(109) Piggy is hit with a rock and falls and dies. Since Piggy is holding the conch, it is destroyed. This is the end of all civilization, order and