What Is Piggy's Glasses Symbolize In Lord Of The Flies

Lord of the Flies is a psychological novel written by William Golding. This novel describes the journey of a group of British boys, without adults, on a deserted island. As they struggle to survive on an island without organization, they find themselves resorting to and relying on several symbolic items that serve multiple purposes to help the boys survive and create a sense of civilization on the island.

One of the more “influential” symbols referenced throughout the novel is nothing more than a conch shell. This shell was discovered by both Ralph and Piggy shortly after they regained consciousness upon their arrival on the island. This discovery was significant because it symbolized order and civilization for the boys on the island. Without

Throughout his time on the island, Piggy developed an awkward tic to fidget with his glasses and clean them off when he was nervous or intimidated. It might even be said that he used the glasses as a “mask” to hide his true feelings about a situation. For example, when all of the boys were taunting him about his name, he cowered away and fidgetted with the glasses. In the text it stated, “.he went very pink, bowed his head, and cleaned his glasses again,” (21). While Piggy’s sense of security was his glasses, the other boys all had something on the island that helped them mask their feelings. For example, some of the other boys used battle paint as a mask. When they were preparing to hunt, the boys used a charcoal stick to create an intimidating persona for themselves. With the paint on their faces, they obtained new personalities that helped them feel more confident when hunting. In reference to Jack, for example, the text stated, “Beside the pool his sinewy body held up a mask that drew their eyes and appalled them,” (64). In this case, Piggy’s glasses are significant to the novel because they created a sense of security, not only for himself, but as a representation of the anxiety all of the boys felt on the island. In other cases, however, both Piggy and his glasses represent a voice of reason. Since Piggy’s first appearance in the story, he has been a reasonable character. He is the one who presented