What Does The Conch Symbolize In Lord Of The Flies

Symbolism is using words, places, people, and objects for a meaning that is deeper than its literal meaning (Google). It is common sense that very often the author shares his message with the help of certain symbols. However, the meaning of the symbols seems to change throughout different circumstances in our life. William Golding’s Lord of the flies is not an exception. In William Golding’s allegory novel Lord of the Flies, he write a story about a group of British boys that land on an unknown island. In his novel he demonstrates how they become ferocious because of the absence of social rules and authority figures. Golding uses an immense amount of symbols but the three most significant symbols that he uses are the conch, Piggy’s glasses

When all the boys starts to speak at the same time Ralph asserts, “We’ll have to have ‘hands up’ like at school” and“I’ll give the conch to next person to speak. He can hold it when he is speaking” (33). Ralph’s speech demonstrate that the conch represents power, respect and social order. Golding emphasize that the person holding the conch had the power, who is Ralph and it created order and rules since when it was called, everyone had to listen to Ralph. It also shows that the conch give the boys most power, and no one can take that power away from the boys as long as they have the possession of the conch. However, later on in the novel, the power of the conch shell starts to break because of not having any rules in the island. When Jack talking to Ralph and screams loudly, “Conch! Conch!... We don’t need the conch anymore” (101-102). This demonstrates the conch is slowly losing its value because the boys starts to ignore the power of conch and they breaking the rules by not holding the conch while speaking. The conch is no longer has the power of authority when it’s being destroyed by Roger. When Piggy and Ralph tries to fight with Jack’s tribe for stealing Piggy’s glasses, and Roger suddenly pushes a rock, Golding mentions, “The conch exploded into a thousand white

For example, when Roger follow Henry he throw stones to him, “Roger stooped, picked up a stone, aimed and threw it ay Henry-threw it to miss”. (62) This quote describes that how Roger still remember his old life rules and not become fierce yet. Golding explains that when Roger throw the stone to miss, “Round the squatting child was the protection of parents and school” (62). Golding demonstrate the authority and law from the teachers, police affect Roger’s arm not to throw the stones directly at Henry. However, he become savage at the end of the book. For example, When Roger and Jack get tired of hearing Piggy complain and lecture them, Roger is standing above Piggy and acts as executioner. “High overhead, Roger, with a sense of delirious abandonment, leaned all his weight on the lever” (180). Golding emphasize how Roger transforms from a choir boy to a vicious murderer. Golding's belief that human nature will delegate into barbarity without the restraints of