In Lord of The Flies by William Golding, symbols are implemented throughout the novel as an indirect yet clear way, providing sufficient context for the reader to comprehend and identify the leitmotif that has been proposed by the author. Fire is used to symbolize life, hope, and survival of the stranded kids, as well as destruction and death. By using one symbol to express two very divergent meanings, Golding is able to highlight that human life and civilization can be used for either positivity and ambition, or corruption and bereavement , thus accentuating the importance of decision making as an individual, as well as the cooperation of a community. Early in the novel, the stranded kids on the island have frequent meetings led by Ralph in order to discuss their essential priorities and organize the roles required to obtain them. According to Ralph, fire is superior above everything else because “If a ship comes near the island they may notice us” …show more content…
Jack and the choir boys make this mistake and go off to a pig hunt, leaving their duty and letting the fire die. Disappointed by the lack of cooperation, Ralph calls a meeting to discuss the significance of the fire. Shaking his head in despair, he says, “The fire is the most important thing on the island. How can we ever be rescued except by luck, if we don’t keep a fire going… Can’t you see we... ought to die before we let the fire out” (80-81)? Although the team effort is slowly decaying and the individual's’ roles are ignored, Ralph continues to point out the the importance of keeping the fire alive by comparing it to their own lives. Ralph keeps the fire burning, meaning that he is also keeping the whole group alive and encouraged. By emphasizing Ralph’s leadership and choices, Golding connects back to the theme, expressing the importance of an individual’s decisions and its effect on the whole